Executive Summary
Akamai research finds the top 5% of enterprise AI power users hardcode unvetted AI tools into critical operations, posing more risk than casual use.
What Happened
Big security risks come in small packages. While enterprise security teams focus on policing the proliferation of employees using ChatGPT and Claude for quick drafting tasks, a more urgent threat is posed by a handful of AI super-adopters who are quietly hardcoding unvetted tools into critical business operations. According to new research published by Akamai, the top 5% of enterprise power
Vulnerability / Attack Technique
Shadow AI by power users
Technical Mechanism
Unvetted AI tools wired into business processes.
AI Security Category
LLM02:2025 Sensitive Information Disclosure
Relevant Frameworks
RealGround Analysis
Risk concentrates in a few heavy users. RealGround analysis: review integrations built by power users first.
Recommended Controls
- Identify AI power users
- Review AI integrations in business workflows
Related RealGround Service
AI Security Readiness Assessment · or start with the free AI Agent Security Scanner.
Sources
thehackernews.com: https://thehackernews.com/2026/08/the-outsized-shadow-why-5-of-ai-users.html
Summary and analysis written by RealGround from the source above; last updated 2026-10-18.