The colleague is working from home office - she is using her own laptop, which is not a problem in itself, right? She is sitting at her desk, typing diligently on her smartphone, and getting help from an AI for his presentation because it is blocked by VPN from her own IT. In a Teams call, a colleague boredly formulates an important email, including customer data, with the help of ChatGPT. The chat will be deleted afterwards. Scenes like these play out daily - and reveal a fascinating phenomenon: "Bring Your Own AI" (BYOAI) has long replaced "Bring your own device." Believe it or not, 78% of employees bring their own AI tools to work. This number is noteworthy, as it not only demonstrates the innovation drive of the workforce but also highlights a dangerous gap in corporate leadership, according to Microsoft. While employees forge ahead, uncertainty reigns in the upper echelons. While 79% of executives recognize the need for AI for competitiveness, 60% hesitate in implementation, and only 8% have effectively implemented it across Europe. Let's be honest: Motivated workers embracing new technologies are a good sign. They are engaged, they stay on top of things. But what if there is a lack of training and rules, and employees just do as they please? Analogous to the principle of "Bring your own device," today we have the case of "Bring your AI subscriptions." This is not always good, but it is often overlooked - the fact is: AI is already here, but many companies are not ready.
Companies are unprepared, employees help themselves, and that becomes a problem
In a recent study by Microsoft from May 2024 based on a survey of 31,000 professionals in 31 countries, insights into the changes that AI brings to the workplace are provided.- Leadership and Strategy: 79% of executives acknowledge the need for AI for competitiveness, but 60% are concerned about implementing new AI technologies.
- 75% of companies worldwide have utilized AI tools, but only 68% of large companies, 33% of medium-sized companies, and 15% of small companies have implemented at least one AI technology in a regulated manner.
- In Europe, only 8% (The highest shares of companies with 10 or more employees using AI technologies were in Denmark (15.2%), Finland (15.1%), and Luxembourg (14.4%). The lowest shares were Romania (1.5%), Bulgaria (3.6%), Poland (3.7%), and Hungary (3.7%).
Bring-Your-Own-AI (BYOAI) Opportunity or Risk? It depends!
The use of Bring Your Own AI (BYOAI) in companies presents both opportunities and risks. On one hand, BYOAI can increase employees' productivity and efficiency by allowing them to use their own AI tools to facilitate their work. On the other hand, BYOAI can also bring security risks and data privacy challenges if employees use unauthorized AI tools that do not comply with the company's security standards. The uncontrolled use of BYOAI poses several risks for companies, including:- Data loss: Uncontrolled use of BYOAI can lead to data loss and intellectual property leakage if employees use unauthorized AI tools that do not comply with the company's security standards.
- Security breaches: The use of BYOAI can also result in security breaches if employees use insecure AI tools that are vulnerable to malware and phishing attacks.
- Compliance issues: Uncontrolled use of BYOAI can also lead to compliance issues if employees use AI tools that do not meet legal requirements, especially in regulated industries such as finance and healthcare.
- Bias and discrimination: Uncontrolled use of BYOAI can also lead to bias and discrimination if AI algorithms are used that exhibit discriminatory patterns.
- Inefficiency and loss of productivity: Uncontrolled use of BYOAI can also lead to inefficiency and loss of productivity if employees use AI tools that are not tailored to the specific needs of the company.
