Employees across various industries are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools at their workplaces, often without formal approval from their organizations. John, a software engineer, embodies this trend by utilizing AI tools without permission from his company's IT division. Despite his company providing GitHub Copilot, an internal AI tool, John opts to use external tools like Cursor and ChatGPT via the Kagi search engine. The reason for this clandestine integration is simple: efficiency and effectiveness.
"It's easier to get forgiveness than permission," – John, a software engineer
The allure of AI for employees like John lies in its ability to compress years of experience into mere seconds through prompt engineering, as highlighted by Simon Haighton-Williams, CEO at The Adaptavist Group. AI tools serve as more than just task completers; they act as "sparring partners," challenging users’ thinking and enhancing their decision-making processes. Karoliina Torttila, Director of AI at Trimble, uses an internal AI tool that allows users to test their plans against various customer perspectives, further illustrating the transformative potential of AI in the workplace.
"You can get summaries of competitors' videos and have a whole conversation [with the AI tool] about the points in the videos and how they overlap with your own products." – Simon Haighton-Williams, CEO at The Adaptavist Group
Peter, a product manager at a data storage company, utilizes Google's Gemini AI chatbot to strategize openly, a task often fraught with limitations due to corporate confidentiality concerns. His company encourages exploration of new AI models and applications, with GitHub Copilot provided for developers to enhance coding efficiency. However, Peter notes the inherent challenges companies face in controlling the tools employees use, describing it as a "control thing."
"Companies want to have a say in what tools their employees use. It's a new frontier of IT and they just want to be conservative." – Peter, a product manager at a data storage company
Harmonic Security plays a pivotal role in identifying shadow AI usage within organizations and preventing unauthorized data entry into these tools. The company monitors over 10,000 AI applications, with more than 5,000 actively in use. Despite concerns about confidentiality, Alastair Paterson, CEO and co-founder of Harmonic Security, reassures that the risk of exposing trade secrets through these tools is minimal.
"It's pretty hard to get the data straight out of these [AI tools]," – Alastair Paterson, CEO and co-founder of Harmonic Security
John's preference for using external AI tools like Cursor, despite his company's ban on such applications, underscores a growing trend where employees prioritize personal productivity over corporate policies. His approach aligns with the belief that AI not only enhances workflow but also provides a sense of fluency in task execution.
"It completes 15 lines at a time, and then you look over it and say, 'yes, that's what I would've typed'. It frees you up. You feel more fluent." – John, a software engineer
As AI tools evolve, employees’ experiences using them for personal projects may shape future corporate policies. Karoliina Torttila emphasizes that this evolution could lead organizations to reassess their stance on AI integration. The recent release of DeepSeek, a freely available AI model from China, is likely to further expand the array of options available to users.
While companies grapple with the implications of shadow AI usage, Simon Haighton-Williams highlights the broader potential of AI as an invaluable partner in strategic planning and innovation. By providing insights and alternative perspectives, AI fosters an environment where creativity and critical thinking thrive.
"The AI is not so much giving you answers, as giving you a sparring partner," – Simon Haighton-Williams, CEO at The Adaptavist Group