It refers to the use of AI tools or services by employees without official approval or management by the IT or security departments of a company or organization.

How do IT managers perceive the increase in 'Shadow AI'?

66.0% of IT managers believe that the use of Shadow AI will increase in 2026 compared to 2025.

How does the perception of risk in 'Shadow AI' compare to 'Shadow IT'?

47.2% of respondents believe Shadow AI poses a higher risk, which is nearly twice the percentage for Shadow IT (27.5%).

What challenges exist in the IT management structure?

More than 40% of surveyed companies operate with an IT management structure of one person or less, indicating a vulnerable situation where AI governance must be strengthened with limited resources.

What is the current status of measures against Shadow AI?

Despite growing concern, there is little difference in the visibility and specific measures taken compared to Shadow IT, which has been a long-standing issue.

freee Publishes Survey on 'Shadow AI' Among IT Department Managers

Published May 25, 2026 8:00 PM ・ Updated Jun 14, 2026 4:48 PM ・ 3 min read ・ Source: PR TIMES

A survey of 633 IT department managers by freee reveals that 66.0% believe 'Shadow AI' usage increased in 2026, with the risk perceived as twice that of 'Shadow IT.' Despite high concerns, limited IT resources are hindering effective mitigation strategies.

freee K.K. has released the results of a survey on 'Shadow AI' and 'Shadow IT' conducted among 633 information systems (IT) department managers across Japan.

While IT departments are facing a surge in AI utilization initiatives, strengthening AI governance has emerged as a critical challenge. The survey revealed that IT staff perceive the risk of 'Shadow AI' to be approximately twice that of conventional 'Shadow IT.'

Despite heightened anxiety, the survey found no significant difference in the level of visibility or countermeasures between the two, indicating that mitigation strategies for Shadow AI are lagging behind.

Survey Summary: - 66.0% of IT managers reported an increase in 'Shadow AI' usage in 2026. - While the risk of Shadow AI is perceived as double that of Shadow IT, 1 in 4 respondents admitted they are 'unsure' about the nature of the risk. - Amid demands for AI governance, over 40% of companies operate with 'one or fewer' dedicated IT staff members. - Only about 10% of companies have achieved 'full visibility' for both Shadow AI and Shadow IT.

Key drivers for the increase include 'increased smartphone AI usage,' 'more AI-integrated tools,' and 'unconscious usage via extensions.' The findings illustrate how limited IT resources are becoming a bottleneck for governance in an environment where AI is seamlessly blending into daily workflows.

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Source: PR TIMES
Category: Survey

freee Publishes Survey on 'Shadow AI' Among IT Department Managers

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