A growing number of technology professionals across the United Kingdom are using generative artificial intelligence tools informally in their daily work without formal oversight or sanctioned IT controls, according to recent industry surveys and expert analysis.

This phenomenon, often termed “shadow AI,” reflects a broader trend in which employees adopt powerful machine-learning models, chatbots and code-generation applications to boost productivity, solve technical problems and accelerate routine tasks.

Employers have reported that while AI boosts efficiency and creativity, many workers are leveraging public-facing AI services on personal devices or unauthorised accounts, raising concerns about data security, compliance and intellectual property protection.

Industry research indicates that UK tech workers are among the most enthusiastic adopters of generative AI tools in Europe, with substantial usage for software development, data analysis, documentation and automated testing.

Some firms are now introducing formal policies to harness AI innovation safely, including secure platforms, training programmes and governance frameworks designed to mitigate risks while improving transparency and control.

Security specialists caution that unregulated AI use can expose organisations to vulnerabilities, including inadvertent leakage of sensitive information into third-party systems and compliance gaps with data protection law.

Human resources and IT leaders in major UK technology firms have begun piloting internal AI systems and guidelines that encourage responsible use while centralising oversight and reducing reliance on unsupervised external tools.

The trend underscores the tension between employee demand for cutting-edge tools and the imperative for corporate governance in a rapidly evolving digital workplace.