Last updated on
July 2, 2025

Shadow AI Risks: How ChatGPT’s New Features Threaten Enterprise Data Security

Scott Young

The rapid adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) has transformed how organizations operate, but it also casts a growing shadow over enterprise security. Yes, these tools bring productivity gains, however their ability to access and extract sensitive data introduces new shadow AI risks for businesses.

Recently, ChatGPT introduced meeting recording and new direct connectors to cloud storage providers like Google Drive, Box, SharePoint, and OneDrive, for their business users. These integrations allow ChatGPT to query information across users’ own services to answer prompts. It also makes it easier to leak sensitive data by streamlining how users share private information with GenAI models.

For security teams, the challenge isn’t just about preventing data leaks. It’s about learning how to identify and mitigate shadow AI risks introduced by unsanctioned GenAI apps in the workplace.

The Shadow AI Risks: How ChatGPT Introduces Shadow AI Security Risks

OpenAI's latest updates to ChatGPT are designed to enhance professional workflows. Business users can now:

These features, if not properly enforced or approved by admins, dramatically expand the attack surface for data exposure. Especially when employees connect their business accounts with shadow SaaS that contain corporate data sources, like a personal Dropbox. This creates a critical "shadow AI" problem if there are no policies in place:

The Challenge: How to Identify and Mitigate Shadow AI Risks

The insidious nature of shadow AI lies in its speed and stealth. Traditional security tools often lack visibility into these user-driven integrations. Employees, trying to be productive, might unknowingly introduce risks by:

The Solution: Obsidian Security Detects Shadow AI Applications and Mitigates Risk

This escalating risk demands a modern, comprehensive approach to SaaS security. Obsidian Security provides the critical visibility and control needed to manage the evolving threat landscape of shadow AI and SaaS misconfigurations.

Obsidian's platform offers:

By providing unparalleled visibility into SaaS applications and their connections, Obsidian Security empowers security teams to proactively manage the risks associated with new, powerful AI capabilities like ChatGPT's meeting recording and cloud connectors.

Get Started: Detect Shadow AI Apps for Free

When left unmanaged, shadow AI risks across your organization become direct conduits for data leaks, regulatory violations, and an ever-expanding attack surface that traditional defenses simply can't see.

A proactive and strategic approach to managing shadow AI isn't just beneficial—it's essential. By prioritizing strong governance policies, enforcing robust access controls, and empowering employees with education on responsible AI usage, organizations can confidently balance innovation with data integrity and organizational resilience. 

Discover every GenAI app in your enterprise with Obsidian Security. Get started for free today!

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