Aberdeen-based MSP Mother Technologies is asking businesses to take a closer look at the AI tools their teams are using, as unapproved use can lead to company data leaving the business without anyone realising.
The issue is known as ‘shadow AI’. It happens when employees use AI tools that IT or management haven't approved or don't know about. It could be a free tool someone has signed up for, a browser plugin, or a bit of text pasted into a chatbot to get a job done quicker. Some of these tools store what they're given and, depending on the platform, may use it to train their systems. Once information has been entered, the business may no longer have control over where it goes. A client proposal, financial figures or an HR record could end up on external servers, out of the company's reach.
Most staff are just trying to save time, so it's easy for this to slip under the radar. It's also likely to become a bigger concern as AI tools start to act on a user's behalf, reading emails, updating spreadsheets and linking up with other systems. An unapproved tool could soon have direct access to a company's inbox and files, and to everything in them.
Mother Technologies doesn't believe the answer is to stop using AI tools. Used well, they save time, sharpen decision-making and give businesses a real competitive edge. Instead, Mother recommends setting clear rules, providing approved tools and keeping an eye on how company data is handled, so teams get the full benefit of AI while sensitive information stays within the business.
Get in touch with Mother Technologies to find out which approved AI tools could be helpful for your organisation at www.mothertech.co.uk