Article Summary
A new IBM Canada study shows 79 percent of Canadian workers use AI tools at work, but only 25 percent use employer-approved enterprise systems, leading to unsanctioned shadow AI use that costs businesses an average of $308,000 per data breach and threatens data security.
- 79 percent of Canadian office workers use AI tools, yet only 25 percent rely on enterprise-grade systems, creating shadow AI risks
- Shadow AI added nearly CA$308,000 to the average cost of Canadian data breaches over the past year
- 97 percent of workers report productivity gains from AI, with more than half saving 1-3 hours weekly
- 46 percent of Canadian workers would leave their job for an employer using AI more effectively, rising to 62 percent among Gen Z
- Companies can close the adoption gap by building stronger data foundations, integrating AI governance, and increasing employee training on safe AI use
Toronto, Ontario -- Canadian workers are adopting artificial intelligence tools faster than their employers, a new IBM Canada study shows, raising concerns about the growth of unsanctioned apps in businesses across the country.
The study says 79 percent of full-time Canadian office workers now use AI at work, yet only 25 percent rely on enterprise-grade systems. The rest use a mix of employer tools and personal apps or rely entirely on personal applications. The report says this trend, known as “shadow AI,” brings risks that range from data leaks to loss of control over sensitive business information.
According to IBM officials, employee-led adoption has outpaced enterprise readiness. They say many firms have not built the data infrastructure or governance systems needed to support secure AI use -- something that already puts businesses at risk. IBM’s latest Cost of a Data Breach Report says shadow AI added nearly CA$308,000 to the cost of the average Canadian data breach over the past year.
Workers overwhelmingly believe AI improves their performance. The study says 97 percent reported productivity gains. It says 86 percent feel confident using AI tools, and nearly 80 percent say AI allows more time for creative or strategic work. More than half reported saving between one and three hours per week. Another 26 percent said AI saves up to 6 hours per week.
The report lists faster task completion as the top advantage, followed by better workload management, improved accuracy and greater creativity.
Despite high usage, only 29 percent of workers believe their employer is using AI to its full potential. The confidence gap is most pronounced among people aged 45 to 54, where only 20 percent say their organization is on the right track. Workers see the best opportunities for AI in data analysis and reporting, automating routine tasks and content creation.
The disconnect affects retention, with 46 percent of Canadian office workers saying they would leave their job for an employer that uses AI more effectively. Among Gen Z employees, the number rises to 62 percent.
The report says companies can close the gap by building stronger data foundations, integrating AI governance, adopting responsible-use frameworks and focusing on practical use cases tied to business outcomes. It also says employers must increase training so workers can use AI safely and effectively.
The findings are based on research conducted by Censuswide. The survey included 4,000 full-time office workers across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Brazil between May 23 and May 30, 2025.
