AI Is Moving Fast. AI Governance Isn’t.

AI is now part of everyday work. Employees are using it to summarize documents, find information, automate repetitive tasks and boost productivity. Meanwhile, organizations are beginning to explore agentic AI systems that can plan, make decisions and complete multi-step workflows with minimal human intervention.

As AI capabilities continue to evolve, organizations are under growing pressure to establish the policies and governance needed to support responsible adoption. To better understand how workplaces are managing this shift, Laserfiche surveyed 1,000 U.S. workers about AI usage, governance and expectations. Just 38% reported that AI use in their workplace is well regulated with clear policies and approved tools, up only slightly from 36% a year ago.

The survey paints a mixed picture of AI in the workplace. While 38% of workers say AI is governed by clear policies, nearly one in four (24%) report that AI is not used at all in their workplace. Another 8% describe AI use as the “Wild West,” with no clear rules or oversight.

Whether an organization is actively deploying AI or just getting started, governance matters. Clear policies help employees understand which tools they should use, how AI-generated content should be reviewed and what data can be safely shared.

Without that foundation, organizations risk inconsistent adoption, security concerns and lower confidence in AI outputs.

Employees are optimistic about AI’s ability to improve everyday work, but they also want reassurance that it will be used responsibly. Workers are most interested in using AI for practical, low-risk tasks such as checking for errors (36%), finding information instantly (34%) and handling repetitive work (33%).

At the same time, worker’s top concerns include AI work quality (24%), irreversible agentic AI actions (21%), process disruption (21%) and sensitive customer data being entered into AI models (20%).

The takeaway is clear. Employees see AI’s value, but trust depends on governance. Organizations need policies that promote transparency, protect data and ensure human oversight where it matters most.

Deploying AI is only part of the equation. Employees also expect organizations to help them use it effectively.

More than one-third (36%) want access to current AI tools and time to learn them. Others expect guidance on AI quality and risk (32%) and clear policies for appropriate use (31%).

Training and governance should evolve alongside AI capabilities. As new tools emerge, organizations that invest in both technology and clear guidance will be better positioned to scale AI with confidence.

The past year has shown how quickly AI innovation can reshape the workplace. The challenge for organizations is making sure governance keeps pace.

At Laserfiche, we believe responsible AI adoption starts with empowering employees while ensuring organizations maintain control over their information and processes. Successful AI adoption is not defined by how many tools an organization deploys. It depends on whether employees have the guidance, processes and confidence needed to use AI responsibly, securely and consistently.

As AI becomes more embedded in everyday work, organizations will need to think beyond individual tools and focus on building trusted processes around how information is accessed, managed and used. The organizations that succeed will be those that pair AI innovation with the governance, transparency and operational foundation needed to turn experimentation into lasting business value.

For more insight on how to successfully deploy AI to drive digital transformation, download our eBook and see how leading organizations are closing the governance gap.

The survey was conducted by Veridata Insights and commissioned by Laserfiche. It included 1,000 U.S.-based individuals aged 18 and over, census-balanced by age and gender.