Mistrust is rampant when it comes to generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, with a new study finding that 94% of CEOs suspect employees are using them without company approval.
The speed with which AI has evolved over the last few years has been a huge boon for businesses that want to streamline productivity. However, with employees getting more and more familiar with the technology, the lines between improving productivity and shirking responsibility has been seriously blurred.
As a result, a huge percentage of CEOs are suspicious that their employees are using generative AI behind their backs, whether it’s true or not.
94% of CEOs Think Employees Use AI Against Company Policy
According to a report — titled Global AI Confessions Report: CEO Edition — 94% of CEOs suspect employees are using generative AI tools without company approval.
The report points out that this is a “massive governance failure within organizations,” given it’s the responsibility of CEOs to establish an AI policy that can improve productivity while establishing trust across the business.
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How to Make AI Work for Your Business
Navigating the waters of generative AI isn’t easy. The technology has seemingly unlimited potential and banning your employees from using it feels just as silly as allowing them to replace their responsibilities with it. So, how can you make AI work for your business?
“The only way to turn AI into an enduring advantage is to assert greater control and governance — future-proofing not just the companies these CEOs run, but their own roles as leaders in an increasingly AI-powered economy.” – Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku
All that to say, generative AI isn’t a passing fad. This technology is here to stay, and businesses that ignore its potential — or worse, who allow it fuel discord between CEOs and employees — are doomed to fall behind other companies that have found ways to make it work for their particular enterprise.
The Importance of AI Policies
If you’re a business in 2025 without an AI policy, what are you doing?
Generative AI features have been added, in some capacity, to virtually every piece of business software in the world, from Gmail and Outlook to Salesforce and QuickBooks, and there is no sign of it slowing down any time soon.
Despite that undeniable fact, many businesses are still quite a bit behind. In fact, our Impact of Technology on the Workplace report found that 35% of businesses have no regulations in place for what employees can use AI for, which is virtually unforgivable in 2025.