Shadow AI out of control: Company data at risk

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence is creating a strong demand for specialists, but a significant shortage of these experts is stifling AI projects within companies.

While many businesses recognize the potential of AI algorithms, only a select few are adept at implementing them. Data from PwC indicates that nearly three-quarters of the economic value generated by AI accrues to just one-fifth of companies. These leading firms achieve substantially higher revenues and operational efficiency compared to others, most of which remain in the pilot phase. The key difference lies not in the number of tools deployed, but in how organizations manage and scale their AI initiatives.

This talent gap is a major hurdle. The World Economic Forum forecasts a substantial increase in employment for big data and AI specialists by 2030. However, businesses are currently grappling with these competency gaps. In Poland, a concerning statistic reveals that two out of every three AI-based initiatives halt at the early stages of development and are ultimately not implemented. Even for those that are implemented, the results are often disappointing.

Looking ahead to 2025, while 75% of large Polish companies plan to undertake advanced analytics and AI projects, only 43% expect to achieve most of the anticipated benefits. A significant issue is that two-thirds of these initiatives stall at the "proof of concept" stage, meaning they are tested but never deployed operationally, thus failing to yield real-world results. This lack of qualified personnel is leading to a misconception that AI implementation is inherently flawed, rather than a consequence of insufficient expertise.

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There is a lack of both IT security, monitoring, and observation specialists, as well as artificial intelligence experts.