- Many employees secretly use AI tools despite company restrictions
- Employees sometimes use their personal devices to conceal AI use
- Larger organizations report higher levels of unauthorized AI usage
Artificial intelligence is becoming a routine part of office work, even when employees believe company policies prohibit its use.
New research from PagerDuty claims two-thirds (66%) of office professionals have used AI tools for work despite thinking those tools were not permitted.
The findings suggest unauthorized AI use is no longer isolated, particularly as workers become more confident in their own understanding of the technology.
Workers increasingly conceal AI use from employers
The study found that among employees who have used AI for work, many acknowledged taking actions that conflict with internal company rules.
Unauthorized use was more common at organizations employing at least 1,500 people, where 72% admitted using AI despite believing it was prohibited.
At smaller companies, the figure remained substantial at 60%, indicating that the practice extends across different workplace environments.
Secrecy often accompanies workplace AI adoption, as a third of AI users said they would deliberately avoid disclosing their use of AI to managers or supervisors.
About 30% cited restrictive company policies or concern about coworker reactions as reasons for keeping their AI use private, while 29% said uncertainty surrounding company rules contributed to their reluctance to disclose those activities.
Perceptions of inconsistent policy enforcement may also contribute to the use of AI in the workplace.
While 86% reported working at organizations with AI policies, 81% believed leadership operates under different standards.
