Jera IT, an Aberdeen and Edinburgh based managed service provider with over 30 years of experience, is calling on North-east businesses to take urgent, proactive steps toward safe and secure AI adoption.
New research shows that the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT is already widespread inside organisations, often without leadership visibility, governance, or security controls in place. This growing phenomenon, commonly referred to as “Shadow AI”, is no longer a future concern. It is a current operational and compliance risk affecting businesses of all sizes and sectors.
Recent findings reveal:
- 42% of office workers are already using generative AI tools at work
- 1 in 3 of those users admit they keep their AI usage secret from their employer
- 65% of employees using ChatGPT rely on free, consumer-grade tools where company data may be used to train AI models
- Employees are using AI for significantly more of their work than leadership teams realise
This activity is happening quietly, driven by productivity pressures and fear of being judged or replaced, but it creates real risks. Sensitive data may be uploaded unknowingly, AI-generated outputs may be trusted without verification, and compliance obligations may be breached without any traditional security tools detecting the issue.
“Shadow AI isn’t coming — it’s already here,” said Ally Hollins-Kirk at Jera IT. “Right now, around one in seven employees is using AI tools without policies, training, or oversight. The risk isn’t that employees are using AI, it’s that businesses aren’t leading the conversation.”
From risk to opportunity
Jera IT believes this moment represents a significant opportunity for Aberdeen businesses. By acknowledging the reality of AI use and putting the right frameworks in place, organisations can unlock productivity gains while protecting their data, reputation, and regulatory position.
A simple way to explain AI to leadership teams, according to Ally, is to think of it like an intern:
“AI is like a really smart, really fast intern, but one that can occasionally be wrong. It needs supervision, guidance, and clear rules.”
Without those controls, businesses risk letting unsupervised “interns” access sensitive information and influence critical decisions.
Scotland’s safest hands for AI adoption
As one of Scotland’s most established MSPs, Jera IT is positioning itself as a trusted guide for businesses navigating AI adoption. With teams based in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and decades of experience supporting regulated industries, Jera IT focuses on practical, secure, and compliant AI implementation, not hype.
The company is now encouraging Aberdeen and Grampian businesses to start with a clear, structured first step: an AI Readiness Assessment.
“Your employees are already using AI,” Ally adds. “Let’s make sure they’re doing it safely.”
📧 To book an AI Readiness Assessment, contact Jera IT at: services@jerait.co.uk