Unauthorized AI Use by STEM Professionals in Germany
⚠️A representative YouGov survey commissioned by recruitment firm SThree found that 77% of STEM professionals in Germany use AI tools at work without approval from IT or management. Commonly used services include ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Perplexity. Experts warn this shadow IT practice can lead to GDPR breaches, inadvertent disclosure of sensitive customer or internal data and the risk that providers will retain and reuse submitted content for training. In Germany, 23% report daily use, 29% weekly and 12% monthly; respondents cite efficiency gains and technical curiosity as primary drivers.
