Artificial intelligence is already part of many professionals’ daily lives, but this is not always visible to organisations. A survey of 25,000 workers by Deloitte UK found that 31% of generative AI users use these tools without their employer’s knowledge. The study, conducted between May and June 2026, interviewed professionals aged 18 to 70 in the United Kingdom. Overall, 63% said they used generative AI at work, and almost a quarter said they used these tools daily.
This phenomenon is known as shadow AI, a term that describes the use of artificial intelligence tools without the organisation’s authorisation or knowledge.
Why do professionals use AI without telling anyone?
According to Deloitte, some employees adopt tools on their own initiative to perform everyday tasks. The most common uses are:
- information search – cited by 43% of users
- email drafting – also at 43%
- summary creation – mentioned by 31%
The survey also shows that 49% of users did not receive formal training on how to use AI safely and effectively at work. This gap means that professionals master tools that are not yet part of the company’s official strategy.
What does this mean for managers?
For team leaders, the rise of shadow AI means that simply making tools available or blocking them may not be enough. Managers need to understand how the technology is being applied and which activities can benefit from it. For example, a team might use a chatbot to summarise documents, organise information, or prepare a first draft of an email. Even if the activity seems simple, the use of the tool may involve internal data, customer information, or documents that should not be sent to external services.
As a result, some points become part of the management routine:
- Define clear rules: the team needs to know which tools can be used, in which situations, and which types of information should not be entered into the systems.
- Understand the tools: managers do not need to master programming, but should know basic concepts, limitations, and practical applications to assess where the technology can be incorporated into work.
- Create space for experimentation: when a professional needs to hide that they are using AI, the company also loses visibility into which tools are being adopted and for which tasks.
Managers also need to update their skills
Another survey by Gallup, conducted in May 2026, reinforces the importance of leadership in this process. Only 36% of employees in organisations that were integrating AI strongly agreed that their managers supported the use of the technology. In the same survey, employees who perceived active support from their manager had a higher frequency of AI use and a greater perception that the technology was transforming the way work was done.
The scenario indicates a change in the role of the manager: in addition to monitoring results and people, they need to understand how new technologies are changing processes and skills within the team. The challenge is not just to adopt AI, but to know where, how, and why to use it.
The short-term training is aimed at professionals with management experience who need to update their knowledge to keep up with the evolution of artificial intelligence and its applications in business.
