Shadow AI Is the New MS Access – and We’ve Seen This Movie Before

Without governance, shadow AI can lead to data leakage, inconsistent outputs, and compliance failures. Worse, it can create a dependency on tools that may not be secure, auditable, or even available tomorrow. Just as agencies once had to audit and replace rogue Access databases, they’ll soon need to audit AI usage.

The solution isn’t to ban AI – it’s to manage it. Agencies should establish clear policies, approved tools, and usage guidelines. A federated governance model can work well: business units have flexibility, within guardrails set by IT and legal. Training and awareness are also key. Staff need to understand not just how to use AI, but when and where it’s appropriate and what tools the agency has endorsed for use.

AI is here to stay. But if we don’t learn from the past, we’ll spend the next decade cleaning up another generation of shadow systems. Let’s get ahead of it – before the mess begins.

If you want to talk about how to foster AI innovation within practical guardrails, reach out to ConceptSix today.