Optro Research Reveals 85 Percent of Enterprises Have Deployed AI, but Only 25 Percent Have Full Visibility
LOS ANGELES, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Optro (formerly AuditBoard) has released its 2026 Risk Intelligence Report, titled “The AI Oversight Gap: Adoption is Scaling. Governance Controls Aren’t.” This report highlights a significant structural misalignment between the rapid deployment of AI in enterprises and the necessary governance infrastructure to manage it effectively. The research presents strategic guidance on how robust oversight can catalyze safe, high-velocity innovation.
Key Findings
The report surveyed over 800 global GRC and IT decision-makers and found that while the maturity of AI governance programs is advancing, the pace of AI adoption continues to outstrip governance capabilities. Specifically, 85 percent of organizations have integrated AI into their core operations or multiple functions, yet only 25 percent possess comprehensive visibility into employee AI usage. This lack of transparency is increasingly concerning as the industry shifts towards agentic AI systems that perform multi-step actions with minimal human intervention.
The Importance of Governance
Advanced governance frameworks are not just compliance measures; they serve as critical business accelerators. By embedding oversight and automated guardrails throughout the AI lifecycle, organizations can mitigate risks associated with unsanctioned AI, commonly referred to as “shadow AI.” This integrated approach shortens the time-to-value and transforms security from a perceived bottleneck into a mechanism for rapid and confident scaling.
According to Guru Sethupathy, GM of AI Governance at Optro, “Governance should not be viewed as a barrier to innovation, but as foundational for enabling organizations to deploy high-integrity AI.” The research indicates that when monitoring and oversight are integrated into the AI lifecycle, organizations can operate both faster and more securely, as the core work shifts to the oversight and governance of AI agents.
Infosec Insights from the 2026 Report
- Rapid Adoption Brings Material Consequences: Organizations reported significant AI-related incidents in the past year, including 40 percent citing inaccurate outputs, 27 percent experiencing data breaches, and 26 percent facing regulatory actions.
- Shadow AI is a Pervasive Concern: Approximately 80 percent of organizations describe the use of “shadow AI” as moderate to pervasive, signaling a critical need to close this visibility gap.
- AI-Enabled Attacks are Surging: 82 percent of organizations reported an increase in AI-enabled attacks over the past year, with AI-assisted social engineering emerging as the top threat for 2026, surpassing ransomware.
- The Need for Unified Accountability: Currently, AI governance responsibilities are fragmented, with no single function owning more than 25 percent of the governance remit. A centralized, connected risk approach is essential to eliminate “security dead zones.”
A Five-Phase Maturity Model
Based on the survey findings, the report introduces a five-phase maturity model designed to assist Infosec and GRC leaders in transitioning from “Reactive Oversight” to “Continuous Assurance.” This model emphasizes moving policy enforcement from static documents into AI-driven workflows, enabling enterprises to provide the necessary guardrails for safe and innovative AI tool usage.
As Kristin Colburn, Leader of Data and AI Governance at Dayforce, notes, “AI adoption is moving faster than many organizations’ ability to fully understand and govern how it’s being used.” To keep pace, governance must evolve from reactive measures to proactive oversight, becoming a continuous, integrated capability that enhances organizational understanding of AI usage and the associated risks.
About Optro
Optro (formerly AuditBoard) assists enterprises in transforming risk into opportunity, redefining Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) through an agentic system of action. More than 50 percent of the Fortune 500 trusts Optro to elevate audit, risk, and compliance in navigating a new era of risk. Optro is highly rated by customers on G2 and was recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Tools, Assurance Leaders.
