The Case for AI Acceleration
Companies that harness AI effectively are already seeing the rewards. JPMorgan Chase, for example, reported a 20% increase in software engineering productivity after rolling out an AI coding assistant. And research consistently shows productivity gains of 20–30% across knowledge-based roles, often for just $250 per user annually. That's a potential 80–120x ROI.
At Emburse, we’ve seen firsthand the potential of AI for our customers and how we supercharge efficiency from summarizing complex reports to drafting customer communications and more. These tools can be game-changers for your workflow if used wisely.
Let me share how I, and the Executive team, embrace both the potential and the reality of AI.
The Risk Paralysis: Perception vs. Reality
So why are some organizations still hesitant about AI?
Many businesses are stalled by the perception of AI risk, rather than actual exposure, and don’t give themselves enough credit to lead their own digital transformation.
Concerns range from:
- Data privacy and leakage
- Misinformation and accuracy (hallucinations)
- Compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and other global regulations
- The ethical use of AI-generated content
- Shadow IT and ungoverned tool adoption
These are valid fears, especially when AI is introduced without governance. But the greater risk is inaction based on where we are now. Allowing employees to experiment with unapproved tools can lead to confusion, frustration, and inconsistent experiences. We’ve even seen well-meaning employees resort to personal AI tools because corporate-approved alternatives weren’t available or clearly communicated.
Also, by not taking the lead on your organization’s AI strategy, you are missing out on the experience your workforce needs to become good at using AI and benefit from its productivity gains.
Top AI Trends CIOs Must Track
To strike the right balance between acceleration and governance, CIOs must stay up to date with the trends shaping AI in the enterprise.
1. AI Governance as a Core Discipline
AI needs the same rigor as cybersecurity. From acceptable use policies to model risk management, governance ensures AI is safe, effective, and compliant. At Emburse, we’ve developed internal guidelines to define what “safe usage” looks like across departments.
2. Persona-Based AI Models
AI tools aren’t one-size-fits-all. Engineers, marketers, finance teams, and other roles each have distinct needs and risk profiles. One of our current challenges is identifying which tools are most beneficial (and safe) for each role. Getting this right is key to both productivity and trust.
3. Shadow AI Is the New Shadow IT
We know that if employees don’t have IT-approved tools, they’ll seek out alternatives. Emburse has technology in place to monitor the use of Shadow IT, to prevent data leakage, and inconsistent security standards. Centralizing tool adoption with guidance from the InfoSec team helps mitigate this.
4. Trust, Verify, and Secure AI Workflows
AI tools can drive significant value, but only when used responsibly, especially in enterprise environments handling sensitive data. While organizations may rely on LLMs and other AI models, that trust must be earned and continually validated. Data inputs, user identity, and system outputs all require rigorous scrutiny. Just as important is zero data retention—enterprise-grade AI must never use customer data for training, storage, or future inference. Audit trails, encryption, and granular access controls are essential for maintaining control and accountability in AI-driven workflows.
5. Data Sovereignty and Compliance at the Forefront
Where your data is processed—and by whom—matters. At Emburse, AI data is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2) and at rest (AES-256), and is processed within secure, localized environments. These practices are more than technical preferences—they're foundational to meeting stringent global compliance requirements.
As AI technology evolves, it’s equally important to regularly review your software providers’ data subprocessor lists, as LLMs and their underlying infrastructure may change frequently, potentially introducing providers that don’t meet your organization’s trust or regulatory standards.
6. Measuring ROI and Productivity Impact
AI is no longer a tech experiment; it’s a business imperative. But to sustain support, we must prove ROI. That means tracking usage, outcomes, and impact. It also means clearly communicating wins internally to drive buy-in and accelerate adoption to take savings from early initiatives to deploy more use cases.
The Generational Divide: Who’s Leading in AI Adoption?
Recent insights from Wired and internal feedback highlight a growing divide:
- Younger employees (Gen Z and younger Millennials) are eager to adopt AI tools, seeing them as opportunities for efficiency and creativity.
- Mid-career and senior staff often approach AI with more caution, concerned about data exposure, job displacement, or just tool fatigue.
This divide can create cultural friction and even security vulnerabilities. As early adopters find ways to work faster, others may feel left behind or choose to opt out entirely. Be a bridge in your organization not only between generations, but also between your conventional processes and what is possible now with AI. This is also why ongoing education is crucial not just on how to use AI tools, but why they’re safe if you acknowledge the risks they carry, and how to navigate them responsibly.
The Call to Action: Empower Your Entire Workforce
To move from friction to fluency, organizations need a people-first strategy for AI adoption. That includes:
- Training Teams Thoughtfully – Especially for roles that feel threatened by AI. Confidence comes from education.
- Communicating Clearly – Explain not just what tools are available, but why they’re approved, how they’re safe, and where they add value.
- Incorporating Forums for Bi-Directional Feedback – Between end users and IT teams, ensuring IT is meeting the needs of the business while maintaining security
- Creating Guardrails, Not Roadblocks – Governance shouldn’t stifle innovation. Make the secure path the easy path.
- Addressing Tool Gaps Proactively – Don’t wait for shadow AI to become a problem. Identify needs, vet solutions, and empower teams to use tools the right way.
The Emburse Security Promise
At Emburse, we empower our employees to work efficiently, productively, and securely because we believe that innovation should be built on trust. Our commitment to security goes beyond our internal teams; it extends to every client we serve.
We’ve developed a rigorous, enterprise-grade security program to protect sensitive data and ensure peace of mind at every touchpoint. By embedding compliance, governance, and control into our AI-driven solutions, we enable real workflows without adding complexity or risk.
Whether you're part of our team or partnering with us as a client, you can move forward with confidence, knowing that security, transparency, and empowerment are built into everything we do.