More than half of firms deploy AI without adequate governance, report finds

More than half of enterprises are actively deploying artificial intelligence (AI), but only a quarter said their governance frameworks are keeping pace, according to research from Smarsh.

The 2026 Enterprise AI Trends Study, conducted by FTI Consulting, found that 55% of organisations are rolling out AI technologies, while just 26% believe their governance arrangements are fully aligned with the speed of adoption.

The report also found that only 30% of enterprises have comprehensive capabilities to detect and manage “shadow AI”, referring to the use of unauthorised AI tools outside approved workflows.

According to the research, 62% of organisations are investing in AI and machine learning capabilities, while 53% are investing in data quality and enrichment and 51% are modernising their data archives to support AI deployment.

The study identified AI governance, communications data, security and compliance as key areas organisations will need to strengthen as AI becomes more embedded across business operations.

Goutam Nadella, chief strategy officer at Smarsh, said: “For decades, communications data was viewed primarily as something organizations needed to preserve for regulatory purposes.

“That era is ending. As AI becomes operational across the enterprise, organizations that can govern, protect, and activate their communications data will be best positioned to innovate responsibly, manage risk proactively, and unlock new business value.”

James Condon, managing director and Americas head of insights at FTI Consulting Strategic Communications, said: “AI readiness is no longer just a technology challenge—it is fundamentally a data governance challenge.