An increasing number of employees in the U.S. are turning to artificial intelligence tools at work, and often without employer guidance or approval — raising red flags for businesses, according to Emerging Tech Brew.
A study conducted by KPMG polled 48,000 individuals worldwide and showed a significant governance gap in the workplace. Half of American respondents reported using AI on the job without knowing whether it was permitted, while 44% admitted to knowingly misusing the technology.
Alarmingly, nearly half (46%) acknowledged uploading sensitive company data or intellectual property to public AI platforms.
This unregulated use has implications not only for data security but also for the quality of work being produced. The report found that 64% of U.S. workers admitted to putting in less effort when using AI tools. Additionally, 58% failed to thoroughly check AI-generated outputs, and 57% said they had made work-related mistakes because of AI use.
These findings echo earlier research showing a disconnect between the rapid adoption of AI by employees and the slower rollout of formal usage policies by organizations. While tech giants like Microsoft and LinkedIn have noted similar trends, this latest data suggests the issue persists.
It’s clear there needs to be stronger internal governance. Just over half of respondents said their employers had implemented responsible AI guidelines, while a quarter reported having none at all, so it seems that companies need to quickly establish robust safeguards to manage operational, financial, and reputational risks.
Beyond the workplace, American workers also expressed a strong desire for broader AI regulation. 72% said they believe more oversight is necessary, and over 80% indicated they would trust AI systems more if stricter rules and policies were in place. Participants also called for news and social media platforms to help users identify AI-generated content and curb misinformation.
As AI tools become further embedded in daily work, experts warn that without swift and thoughtful regulation — both internally within companies and at a larger governmental level — risks related to data misuse, quality degradation, and misinformation will likely continue.
