---
title: "Shadow AI"
description: "An AI system, model or agent running without registration, including staff use of unapproved AI tools; the failure mode that makes an inventory complete only for the honest."
canonical: https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/shadow-ai
author: "Jorge García Aibar"
license: "CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)"
doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22956197
version: "0.5.0"
updated: 2026-09-25
---

# Shadow AI

An AI system, model or agent running without registration, including staff use of unapproved AI tools; the failure mode that makes an inventory complete only for the honest. It is found by discovery and answered with a sanctioned route, not a ban.

- Developed in: [ch. 05, Pattern: Shadow-AI Discovery](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/patterns#pattern-shadow-ai-discovery); [ch. 12, Acceptable use of AI by staff](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/governance-program#acceptable-use-of-ai-by-staff)
- Chapters: [ch. 05, Patterns](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/patterns) · [ch. 07, Maturity Model](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/maturity-model) · [ch. 12, Governance Program](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/governance-program)
- Contrast with: [Sanctioned AI gateway](https://aigovernanceengineer.com/glossary/sanctioned-ai-gateway)
- In the glossary chapter: https://aigovernanceengineer.com/bok/glossary#t-shadow-ai

## Sources

Defined by this Body of Knowledge: the section it is developed in is the source.