The Quiet Users

The lines under "How it sounds" are typical phrasing we wrote, not quotes from clients or interviews.

How it sounds

• “I use it, but I don't advertise it.”
• “If they knew AI did half of this, they'd wonder what I do all day.”
• “Is it even allowed?”

What it looks like

AI use is common and hidden. People don't share what works, don't ask about data rules and don't flag problems. Leadership underestimates how much AI is in use, which means it misjudges both the risk and the opportunity.

Why it happens

People worry about looking replaceable or breaking a rule nobody has written down. When the company hasn't stated a position, staying quiet feels safest. Westrum's research describes this kind of information flow, where people share only what feels safe to share, and it's a response to the setup, never a character flaw.

What it costs

• "52% of people who use AI at work are reluctant to admit to using it for their most important tasks," and "53% of people who use AI at work worry that using it on important work tasks makes them look replaceable" (Microsoft and LinkedIn Work Trend Index, 2024, 31,000 workers in 31 markets). Microsoft sells AI tools, and the data is from early 2024.
• Nearly half of small business workers (47%) cite privacy or security concerns as a barrier to using AI (Chamber and Ipsos, 2026).
• The cost of hidden use is our reasoning: good uses don't spread, and risky uses don't get caught.

First move

Say the company's position out loud: AI use is welcome, this is what stays out of it, and using AI won't count against anyone. Then ask each team to share one way they use it at the next meeting.

The fifteen patterns, with what each one costs and a first move, are in The AI anti-pattern field guide.

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