UK tech professionals are increasingly turning to unauthorised artificial intelligence (AI) tools at work to keep up with mounting pressures.

According to new data from STEM workforce consultancy SThree, four in five (81%) tech workers recognise the risks of using unapproved AI tools, yet half (50%) use them every week and almost a quarter (23%) are using it once a day.

The STEM Workforce Report, which surveyed over 5,000 professionals in key economies, reveals that two in five (39%) UK workers rely on these tools to speed up their work, with 17% admitting they would struggle to meet deadlines without them.

Businesses using unapproved AI tools pose serious or moderate threats to data privacy and security – something that the majority (79%) of UK tech professionals acknowledge. While over half (51%) believe the risks outweigh the rewards, many continue using them, fearing that official tools are too slow – with 22% describing approved systems as inefficient and 27% calling ‘shadow’ tools faster and simpler.

The findings come as governments and regulators move to tighten oversight of artificial intelligence – from the Alan Turing Institute’s new UK mission to strengthen cyber-resilience, to the EU’s landmark AI Act entering its final phase, and new US guidance addressing AI risks in critical infrastructure and national security.

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Rakesh Patel, Managing Director – UK and Rest of Europe, SThree, said: “AI has become a double-edged sword for the UK’s tech workforce – vital for productivity, yet risky when used outside secure systems. The rise of ‘Shadow AI’ isn’t about carelessness but rather a response to pressure. When official tools are too slow or restrictive, people naturally look for faster ways to get the job done, putting companies at risk.

“The challenge for employers is to bridge that gap by giving teams access to secure, efficient AI that keeps pace with modern workloads. Productivity shouldn’t come at the expense of security – but right now, too many workers feel forced to choose between the two and there is real risk of more data breaches to come.”