A Shadow AI Agent is an artificial intelligence program or bot that operates within an organization without formal approval, oversight, or integration into official IT systems. These agents are often deployed by employees or departments to automate tasks, analyze data, or improve workflows, but they function outside established security and compliance protocols. Because they are not monitored by IT, Shadow AI Agents can introduce security risks, data privacy concerns, and compliance issues, as their activities may go unnoticed or unregulated.