REPLAY: Shadow IT Uncovered: How One Irish Retailer Found 300,000 Grammarly Hits - Then Built a Plan

About this episode

Allan Russell discusses uncovering shadow AI in Musgraves and building a strategy around it.

When Allan Russell joined Musgraves as Head of AI and Process Automation, he thought the 147-year-old Irish retailer wasn't using much AI. Within weeks of his "roadshow" around the business, he'd uncovered 17 unauthorised applications—before even speaking to IT. Then the real numbers emerged: 300,000 hits to Grammarly in 30 days across just 1,700 office users. Shadow AI wasn't theoretical—it was rampant and ungovernanced. Rather than panic, Allan built a strategy around what people were already doing, rolling out Microsoft Copilot and establishing four pillars: process automation, AI, culture, and governance. His advice? Stop hesitating—your competitors are already using these tools. And never deploy AI without first talking to the people whose problems you're trying to solve. Show Notes Guest: Allan Russell, Head of AI and Process Automation, Musgraves Key Topics: [04:16] The shadow AI discovery - How an informal "roadshow" uncovered 17 AI applications before consulting IT. [06:44] 300,000 Grammarly hits - Network data revealed 300,000 Grammarly hits in 30 days across 1,700 users, plus 1,200 ChatGPT hits. [08:02] Four foundational pillars - Process automation and AI supported by…

People in this episode

Host: Maryrose Lyons

Guest: Allan Russell

Topics covered

• shadow IT
• AI applications
• process automation
• governance
• business strategy

Keywords

• shadow AI
• Grammarly hits
• Microsoft Copilot
• process automation
• AI governance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Musgraves

Products: Grammarly, Microsoft Copilot

More episodes of Chatting GPT

• The Web Is Being Componentised · May 12, 2026 · 24 min
• The AI Problem Isn't the Tech — It's the Adoption · April 28, 2026 · 16 min
• Pints, Petrol and Prices · April 14, 2026 · 23 min
• Sean Blanchfield: Don't Let Your AI Go Rogue · March 18, 2026 · 20 min
• Sean Blanchfield Says: Don't Get This Wrong · March 17, 2026 · 12 min
• The Death of the "Job Count" · March 3, 2026 · 21 min