Let’s start with a simple question.
Do you actually know which AI tools your team is using at work… and what information they are putting into them?
Most business owners assume they do. Until they take a closer look.
AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini have become part of everyday work almost overnight. They help with emails, documents, ideas, and problem solving. They make work faster and easier.
But adoption has happened so quickly that control and oversight have not kept up.
Recent research shows AI use in businesses has grown rapidly, with usage and prompt activity increasing at huge scale. In many organisations, it is now part of daily workflow rather than occasional use.
The issue is how it is being used.
A large number of employees are using personal AI accounts or unapproved tools for work tasks. This is often called “shadow AI”.
It means company data is being entered into systems that the business does not manage, cannot monitor, and cannot audit.
That is where the risk begins.
When someone pastes information into an AI tool, they are sharing data outside the organisation. This can include customer details, internal documents, financial information, or sensitive business content.
In many cases, this happens without any intent to cause harm. People are simply trying to work faster.
The problem is visibility. Most businesses have no clear record of what is being shared, where it is going, or how it is stored.
Reports show that incidents involving sensitive data being entered into AI tools are increasing every year, often happening hundreds of times a month in larger organisations.
This creates both a security and compliance risk. In regulated industries, or where customer data is involved, uncontrolled AI use can lead to policy breaches without anyone realising.
There is also a wider security concern. As more information flows into external AI systems, it becomes harder to control and easier for attackers to exploit if exposed elsewhere.
The key point is simple. This is not about stopping AI use.
It is about managing it properly.
That means:
- Defining approved AI tools for work use
- Setting clear rules on what data can and cannot be shared
- Creating visibility over usage where possible
- Educating staff on safe and unsafe use
AI is already embedded in how people work. Ignoring it does not reduce risk.
Governance does.
At Myriad Technologies, we help businesses put practical AI policies in place and make sure teams use these tools safely and responsibly.
If you need support bringing AI under control in your organisation, get in touch.