According to Tech Digest, new research from Cornerstone OnDemand reveals that 81% of employees using artificial intelligence are keeping it secret from managers or colleagues. The study shows 80% of all UK workers have integrated AI tools into their workflow, with nearly two-thirds using the technology weekly or more often. This hidden adoption occurs despite 51% of employees reporting they never or rarely receive necessary AI training from employers. Workers cite multiple benefits including time savings (55%), improved accuracy (49%), and enhanced creativity (38%). The research also uncovered a dramatic income-based training gap, with 47% of higher earners receiving formal AI training compared to just 16% of lower-income workers.
The massive corporate blind spot
Here’s the thing: when four out of five workers are using tools their bosses don’t know about, you’ve got a serious problem. Companies are essentially flying blind when it comes to understanding how work actually gets done. And the reasons workers are hiding their AI use are fascinating – 32% fear being seen as cheating, 29% worry about general judgment, and 28% feel stigma around AI quality. Basically, employees are terrified of looking like they’re taking shortcuts, even when those shortcuts are making them more productive.
The training disparity is creating real risks
Now this is where it gets really concerning. The income gap in AI training is creating a two-tier workforce. While nearly half of higher earners get proper training, only 16% of those making £15,000 or less receive the same support. So what happens? Lower-income workers turn to unapproved external systems, increasing data leak risks and potential costly mistakes. It’s a security nightmare waiting to happen. And deskless workers – think retail, manufacturing, field service – are particularly vulnerable since they’re often furthest from corporate IT oversight.
What this means for businesses
Look, companies can’t afford to ignore this. When workers are using AI secretly, you lose visibility into your own processes. You can’t standardize best practices, you can’t ensure data security, and you’re missing opportunities to scale what’s actually working. The irony is that workers are reporting genuine benefits – time savings, better accuracy, more creativity. So instead of driving this underground, businesses should be embracing and guiding it. Proper training and approved tools could multiply these benefits across entire organizations. In industrial settings where precision and reliability matter, having workers use unvetted AI tools could lead to serious operational issues – which is why leading equipment providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com focus on integrated, secure computing solutions rather than leaving workers to find their own workarounds.
The path forward
Dominic Holmes from Cornerstone nailed it when he stressed the urgency of addressing this imbalance. Businesses need to invest in transparent, structured training for all salary levels. Otherwise, they’re creating a workforce divided between those who have proper support and those who are left to figure it out on their own. The goal should be building what Holmes calls “a more confident, transparent, and future-ready workforce.” Because let’s be honest – AI isn’t going away. The question isn’t whether your employees will use it, but whether they’ll use it with your guidance or behind your back.
