The next governance challenge that chief information officers (CIOs) can’t ignore in 2026 is the acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) agent sprawl. The possibility of the uncontrolled expansion of AI agents across an organization is reminiscent of the shadow IT issues that arose in the 2010s when departments disregarded corporate IT and implemented tools they […]
The next governance challenge that chief information officers (CIOs) can’t ignore in 2026 is the acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) agent sprawl. The possibility of the uncontrolled expansion of AI agents across an organization is reminiscent of the shadow IT issues that arose in the 2010s when departments disregarded corporate IT and implemented tools they needed without guidance. The shadow IT phenomenon caused security issues and compliance blind spots.
AI agent sprawl is poised to repeat history, but with even more risk and complexity. AI capabilities are increasing, and as AI agents become more accessible, they are added to pivotal roles across various industries. Marketing and sales teams are deploying customer service agents and lead qualification bots. The finance industry wants to utilize automated reporting agents while HR departments are testing recruiting assistants.
Corporations have recognized the promise of AI agents and are compelled to move rapidly to implement them to stay at the forefront of the AI revolution. This rush for integration is sometimes done without proper tools or frameworks, or an understanding of the impact.Agent sprawl and the evolving role of IT governance
CIOs must understand that AI is not just another high-tech trend, but a critical moment in shaping their organization’s future, requiring a fundamental rethinking of IT governance and organizational structure.
AI agents are systems different from traditional AI because they can act independently and perform tasks without constant human supervision. They are capable of planning and interacting with tools and APIs to accomplish their work.
AI agent sprawl can cause multiple issues because AI agents are not under the IT department’s guidance, but instead constitute a shadow IT infrastructure. The risks are primarily centered around data security, redundant spending, and integration challenges.
AI Agents are adding several concerning issues.Legal and liability exposure in court proceedings
Beyond regulatory compliance, unmanaged AI agent sprawl creates direct legal exposure in civil litigation, employment disputes, consumer protection cases, and regulatory enforcement actions. As AI agents increasingly interact with customers, job candidates, and financial data, their outputs may be utilized as corporate actions instead of experimental tools.
Courts are already grappling with questions of accountability when automated systems make decisions or generate representations. If an AI agent provides misleading information, discriminatory outputs, improper disclosures, or advice that causes harm, plaintiffs are unlikely to distinguish between a human employee and an unsupervised AI agent. The organization remains the responsible party.
This exposure is amplified when companies cannot demonstrate consistent oversight, documented controls, or audit-ready records across all deployed agents.Brand fragmentation
The chief marketing officer crafts a consistent brand voice for every customer touchpoint.
