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Global Accelerated Learning • Est. 1999
Glossary Term Shadow AI

Training Camp • Cybersecurity Glossary

What is Shadow AI?

Shadow AI is unsanctioned employee use of AI tools without governance, risking data leakage, compliance gaps, and unvetted model outputs.

Glossary > AI Security & Data Privacy > Shadow AI

Understanding Shadow AI

Shadow AI is the use of artificial intelligence tools and services, such as public generative AI assistants, by employees without the knowledge, approval, or governance of the organization. Like shadow IT, it introduces risks including leakage of sensitive data into third-party models, compliance violations, and unvetted or biased outputs influencing decisions. Managing shadow AI requires acceptable-use policies, approved tooling, data-loss controls, and monitoring of AI service usage.

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