freee Publishes Survey on 'Shadow AI' Among IT Department Managers
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.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 25, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 25, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 28, 2026 at 11:48 (72h 16m after Collected)
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.
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.
FAQ
「シャドーAI」とは何か？
企業や組織のIT・セキュリティ部門が公式に承認・管理していない生成AIツールやサービスを、従業員が独断で業務に利用することを指す。
情シス担当者は「シャドーAI」の増加をどう感じているか？
66.0%が2025年と比較して2026年はシャドーAIの利用が増えていると回答している。
「シャドーAI」のリスクに対する認識は「シャドーIT」と比べてどうか？
シャドーAIの方がリスクが高いと回答した割合は47.2%で、シャドーIT（27.5%）の約2倍となっている。
情シスの体制にはどのような課題があるか？
回答企業の約4割強が「1人以下の情シス体制」で運用しており、限られたリソースでAIガバナンスを強化しなければならない脆弱な状況にある。
シャドーAIへの対策状況はどのようなものか？
危機感の高まりとは裏腹に、可視化や具体的な対策状況においては、以前から問題視されているシャドーITと大きな差は見られない。