The State of AI
in the Workplace
2025

AI Adoption Grows, But Oversight Lags Behind

AI has quickly shifted from optional to essential across all business functions—what began as experimental deployments is now critical infrastructure embedded in daily workflows. However, while adoption surges ahead, governance lags dangerously behind. Most organizations lack visibility into AI usage, creating significant security and operational risks.

To understand the scope of the problem, we conducted in-depth research that shows how far AI usage has outpaced governance, and what that means for companies of all sizes. We studied:

160+
‍Organizations

Ranging from 50 to 85,000 employees

400K+
Users

From Silicon Valley tech hubs to frontline teams in Jakarta

3000+
AI Apps

Analyzed across various departments and designations

The stats left us surprised, as we discovered that employees across departments have been rampantly adopting AI tools without any oversight or governance frameworks in place.

100+
Unique AI Apps

Already in use by some organizations

<20%
App Visibility and Control

IT and security teams are unaware of most AI apps in use

The Co-Founder and CEO of Zluri emphasizes,

“AI adoption in enterprises is accelerating at a breakneck pace—several companies now use hundreds of AI tools, and many operate entirely outside IT’s awareness.

This 'AI sprawl' introduces new risks—from data leakage via unmanaged AI agents to uncontrolled access paths—necessitating real-time visibility and unified governance across both human and non‑human identities.

With a structured approach—Visibility, Intelligence, Action (VIA)—organizations can reclaim control, detect Shadow AI, enforce access policies, and automate remediation, turning AI from a security threat into a strategic asset. The data is clear—AI is already inside your organization.

The real question is: Will you govern it now or let it govern you later?”

Ritish Reddy
Co-Founder and CEO at Zluri

This new report from Zluri, powered in part by G2’s Data, provides a real-world view into how AI is transforming business operations

G2’s software taxonomy, built on verified insights from hundreds of thousands of businesses and millions of buyers, offers a unique window into how AI is actually being adopted—not just discussed. What we’re seeing is a real, measurable shift: enterprises are embedding AI into workflows at scale. This new report from Zluri, powered in part by G2’s Data, provides a real-world view into how AI is transforming business operations. The next challenge for leaders will be governing this rapid growth responsibly and effectively.

Godard Abel
Co-Founder and CEO at G2

What’s inside

The 2025
AI Leaderboard

01

Category Leaders: Top AI Apps by Use Case

02

How Different Departments Use AI

03

The Hidden Cost of AI: Governance Gaps and Risk Hotspots

04

Zluri’s End-to-End AI Governance Approach

05

The 2025 AI Leaderboard

While hundreds of AI tools compete for attention, our analysis reveals the clear winners that dominate enterprise workflows. ChatGPT isn't just leading the pack—it's in a league of its own, outpacing competitors by staggering margins.

https://www.zluri.com/state-of-ai-in-the-workplace-2025-report#leaderboard
#1
ChatGPT
#2
Cursor
#3
Google Gemini
#4
Quillbot
#5
Deepseek
#6
Glean
#7
Grammarly
#8
GitHub Copilot
#9
Claude
#10
Perplexity
#11
Windsurf
#12
Zendesk
#13
Adobe Creative
Cloud
#14
Dialpad
#15
Gamma
#16
Midjourney
#17
Writer
#18
Wordtune
#19
ElevenLabs
#20
Lovable

Rising Stars:
AI Tools Climbing the Charts

https://www.zluri.com/state-of-ai-in-the-workplace-2025-report#rising-stars
Runway AI
Language
Tool
Microsoft
Copilot
Microsoft Text
Analytics

Category Leaders:
Top AI Apps by Use Case

AI Chatbots
AI Writing Assistants
AI Code Generation
Voice Recognition
Conversational Intelligence
AI Image Generators
Text to Speech
AI Content Creation
AI Agents/Work AI
AI Video Generator

 AI Chatbots

#1

ChatGPT

#2

Deepseek

#3

Claude

#4

Perplexity

#5

Poe

AI Writing Assistants

#1

QuillBot

#2

Grammarly

#3

Wordtune

#4

LanguageTool

#5

ProWritingAid

AI Code Generation

#1

Cursor

#2

Github Copilot

#3

Windsurf

#4

Lovable

#5

Blackbox.ai

Voice Recognition

#1

Zendesk

#2

Krisp

#3

Otter.ai

#4

Voice In (Dictanote)

#5

Sonix

Conversational Intelligence

#1

Dialpad

#2

Microsoft Text Analytics

#3

ADA

#4

Voiceflow

#5

Gong.io

AI Image Generators

#1

Adobe Creative Cloud

#2

Midjourney

#3

Gencraft

#4

Getimg.ai

#5

Galileo.ai (Acquired by Google)

Text to Speech

#1

ElevenLabs

#2

Speechify

#3

Murf.ai

#4

Play.ht

#5

Fliki

AI Content Creation

#1

Gamma

#2

Writer

#3

Beautiful.ai

#4

PopAi

#5

Jasper

 AI Agents/Work AI

#1

Google Gemini

#2

Glean

#3

Microsoft Copilot

#4

Clay

#5

Manus

AI Video Generators

#1

Runway AI

#2

Descript

#3

HeyGen

#4

Flow (Veo 3)

#5

Pika

How Different Departments Use AI

Product & Engineering

200+

Unique AI Apps in Use
Power users leading AI adoption - primarily utilize AI and ML/LLM ops tools for code generation

Sales & Engineering

170+

Unique AI Apps in Use
Efficiency seekers who utilize AI for pipeline engagement and scalable content creation

Customer Success & Support

140+

Unique AI Apps in Use
Service excellence masters who utilize AI for faster response times and personalized customer support

Business Strategy & Operations

100+

Unique AI Apps in Use
Strategists who utilize AI for market research, report generation, presentations, and cross-functional communication

Design

90+

Unique AI Apps in Use
Creative innovators who utilize AI for rapid prototyping and visual content generation at scale

The Hidden Cost of AI: Governance Gaps and Risk Hotspots

01

Limited Visibility

IT and security teams have visibility and control over less than 20% of the AI apps in use

02

Unauthorized AI Usage

Employees use unapproved and unsupervised AI tools, leading to data exposure, unauthorized access, and compliance risks

03

Data Compliance Violations

Teams may inadvertently input sensitive customer data or regulated information into public AI models, risking compliance violations

05

Identity and Access Sprawl

Orphaned accounts with lingering access to AI platforms create unauthorized entry points

04

Inadequate Security Controls

Many AI apps lack essential features such as RBAC, MFA, and SSO, resulting in monitoring gaps that traditional security tools can’t address

“AI introduces myriad cybersecurity risks, especially for identity governance—from AI-powered phishing and social engineering to credential compromise and non-human identity exploits. The security and privacy risks are mission-critical due to regulatory demands and vulnerabilities like bias, data poisoning, and malicious attacks. Organizations need cross-functional coalitions, AI policies, and new skills to manage both AI and human/non-human identities strategically.”
Arun DeSouza, CXO Executive Advisor at Netskope
"AI is bringing huge benefits to organizations of all sizes and sectors, creating permissions, descriptions, policies, and access request templates, improving productivity and security. However, it can be a security liability if implemented poorly - with credentials management, data discovery, and access control often complex to implement. Organizations embarking on their AI journey should establish a cross-stakeholder group to discuss the ethical and legal challenges."
Simon Moffatt , Founder and Research Analyst at The Cyber Hut

Zluri’s End-to-End AI Governance Approach

Zluri addresses the AI governance challenge with its Next-Gen Identity Governance & Administration platform. The solution provides organizations with complete visibility into their AI landscape, intelligent risk controls, and automated access management, enabling them to accelerate AI adoption while maintaining security and compliance.

100% AI App Visibility

Auto-detect all AI tools in use and track usage patterns of active users with Zluri’s patented discovery engine

Instant Risk Alerts

Admins get alerted when restricted AI tools are accessed, new users use unauthorized apps, or policies are violated. Users are also notified if they try to access restricted tools

Automated AI Access Controls

Admins can create custom policies to auto-reject access requests for restricted AI apps. They can also set up automated deprovisioning tasks via Slack, email, or Jira that prompt users to self-offboard or notify managers to remove a user’s access from restricted AI apps

Zluri gave us a clear view of AI usage across the organization
Previously, we relied on monthly software transaction reviews to spot new tools, but it wasn't easy to understand the intent behind random AI tool signups. Our primary concern was how company and customer data might be processed without oversight. Zluri gave us a clear view of AI usage across the organization (free or paid).
Michael Rocha, IT Operations Manager at ClickFunnels
Zluri has helped us get a handle on what's in our environment
As a company, we have really decided to embrace AI. So we have a whole lot of people just thinking they can do whatever they want and bring anything on board. Zluri has been able to help us get a handle on what we have in our environment and what people are actually using, helping us meet some of the regulatory requirements that we have.
System Administrator at a Leading Biosciences Company
Zluri helped us prioritize AI risks
We’ve seen that productivity is significantly higher with AI. But at the same time, we have to block access to some high-risk tools, and that’s really the challenge. Every day, employees request different AI tools based on their preferences—Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and more. Zluri shares email notifications, identifying which new tools are being used and which ones are risky, so you can prioritize risks.
Senior Cloud Infra & Security Engineer at a Telecom Company
Coming soon

Advanced Controls

Real-time Data Protection Controls

Browser-based blocking of restricted AI tools, real-time alerts when sensitive data is entered into AI applications, and automatic data masking to protect confidential information

Robust Policy Enforcement

Users will be required to accept an “AI Usage Policy” or obtain approval before accessing AI tools. Built-in workflows will handle approval requests and justifications, ensuring proper governance and oversight

Smart Alternative App Suggestions

When users request access to a restricted AI tool, they're shown approved alternatives, ensuring they stick to authorized apps while preventing shadow IT

You Can’t Secure What You can’t See

Shadow AI is bigger, riskier, and more pervasive than shadow IT ever was. This report reveals what is in use, the risks it poses, and how to respond with insights from industry leaders.

Download Report
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