- Despite receiving approved tools, workers still prefer ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude
- One in ten companies add 10,000 agent or machine identities each month
- Companies must listen to workers and treat AI as an identity in the future
Around two in three UK organizations admit they can’t even track whether their employees share data via approved AI platforms, creating significant visibility blind spots.
New data from Sailpoint reveals that workers are increasingly using popular AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude despite being provided with other tools, suggesting that companies are not listening to workers’ needs.
Mark McClain, CEO of Sailpoint, explained: “As the use of AI systems becomes more widespread, the situation will only get out of control if organizations fail to put in place the right barriers, which will be exacerbated by other tools that go unnoticed.”
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Shadow AI is causing large visibility gaps
It appears that 82% of companies have invested in AI and data skills and as a result, half (41%) have hired dedicated roles; However, 45% of IT leaders say they still don’t have enough information about where and how company data is shared through AI tools.
And the worst is yet to come, because while workers frequent unauthorized GenAI tools, agent AI could amplify the effects even further. Four in five say AI agents are performing unwanted actions, such as accessing or sharing incorrect data, and this comes at a point where up to 12% of companies are adding up to 10,000 AI agents or machine identities per month.
“Organizations must end workarounds and take back control,” McClain added. “That requires a combination of skills and awareness, but it also fundamentally comes down to a challenge around identity.”
Looking ahead, two clear paths emerge for companies to contain the use of AI. First, they should recognize the types of tools workers need and set barriers to them, and second, with the rise of agent AI, companies must treat AI as an identity issue and assign access controls to data to prevent unwarranted leaks.
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