Shadow AI
Shadow AI is AI tool use inside a company that hasn't been formally evaluated or approved by IT, like an employee using a personal ChatGPT account for work.
How it works
It typically shows up as employees pasting company information into consumer AI tools, installing AI-powered browser extensions, or using AI features embedded in SaaS products IT never reviewed for that purpose. None of it is malicious - people are usually just trying to get their work done faster - but none of it is visible to, or controlled by, IT.
How it differs from adjacent concepts
It differs from a governed AI layer, which IT evaluates and approves once and which stays visible through admin metadata. It's a category of risk, not a specific tool - the same person can use both a governed tool at work and shadow AI for a task the governed tool doesn't cover.
Where Twintual fits
Twintual is positioned as the governed alternative that gives employees AI drafting without pushing them toward shadow AI: once IT approves and deploys it, there's less reason for someone to paste company communication into an unapproved consumer tool instead.
Frequently asked questions
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