47% of Large Enterprises Lack Visibility Into Employee AI Use, Protiviti Survey Finds

Event summary

  • 47% of large organizations lack full visibility into employee AI tool usage, per Protiviti's AI Pulse Survey.
  • 65% report challenges with 'shadow AI'—systems deployed without proper oversight.
  • Only 40% of organizations have a formal AI governance framework in place.
  • IT leaders (45%) are more likely than executives (30%) to see AI as a significant cyber risk.
  • Survey based on responses from 345 C-suite executives, board members, and IT leaders in February 2026.

The big picture

As AI adoption outpaces governance, enterprises face increasing cybersecurity and operational risks. The disconnect between IT teams and executive leadership highlights the need for stronger oversight frameworks. Organizations that fail to address these visibility gaps may struggle to secure AI-driven outcomes and maintain regulatory compliance.

What we're watching

Governance Gaps
How the lack of formal AI governance frameworks will impact long-term risk management and compliance.
Cybersecurity Disconnect
Whether the growing divide between IT leaders' and executives' perceptions of AI-related cyber risks will lead to misaligned investment in controls.
Scalability Challenges
The pace at which organizations can implement scalable AI governance as adoption accelerates across business functions.

Related topics

AI Governance