Dataset
Methodology and schema publishedThe Shadow AI Survey
The Shadow AI Survey measures unsanctioned AI usage inside revenue teams: which tools reps and operators actually use, which motions they use them in, and where usage diverges from what leadership has sanctioned. Findings are aggregated and anonymized before publication.
By Jonathan Kvarfordt, Founder and Principal Analyst
What this dataset contains
- Unsanctioned tool usage by seat
- Motions where shadow usage concentrates
- Divergence between sanctioned and actual usage
- Methodology and sample composition notes
Schema
| Column | Definition |
|---|---|
| wave | Survey wave identifier. |
| seat | Revenue function of the respondent group. |
| metric | The measured behavior or divergence. |
| value | Aggregated, anonymized reading. |
| sample_n | Respondents contributing to the reading. |
Download
Column definitions only. No observations have been published for this dataset yet, so the file is a header row and a method note, not a benchmark. The first reading publishes with the next panel cycle. Open to anyone, no email required, under CC BY 4.0. Attribution: The Revenue AI Report, therevenueaireport.com.
Methodology and caveats
Individual responses are never published. The first wave publishes with the first survey issue of the cycle. Methodology publishes with the data.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Shadow AI Survey?
A recurring survey measuring unsanctioned AI usage inside revenue teams: which tools people actually use and where that diverges from what leadership sanctioned.
Why does shadow AI usage matter?
It is where data exposure risk concentrates, and it is an honest signal of which workflows the sanctioned stack fails to serve.
Are individual responses published?
No. Only aggregated, anonymized findings are published, with sample sizes reported alongside.
How do I participate?
Survey invitations go to subscribers. Subscribe at /subscribe.
How to cite this dataset
Written by Jonathan Kvarfordt, Founder and Principal Analyst, The Revenue AI Report. Published under CC BY 4.0.
APA
Kvarfordt, J. (2026). The Shadow AI Survey. The Revenue AI Report. Retrieved from https://www.therevenueaireport.com/data/shadow-ai-survey
MLA
Kvarfordt, Jonathan. "The Shadow AI Survey." The Revenue AI Report, 31 Aug. 2026, www.therevenueaireport.com/data/shadow-ai-survey.
BibTeX
@misc{kvarfordt2026shadowaisurvey,
author = {Kvarfordt, Jonathan},
title = {The Shadow AI Survey},
year = {2026},
publisher = {The Revenue AI Report},
url = {https://www.therevenueaireport.com/data/shadow-ai-survey}
}