A new Martinique business survey has highlighted a growing cybersecurity concern: artificial intelligence is entering workplaces faster than many organisations are establishing rules to protect sensitive information.

The first Baromètre IA Martinique 2026, published by local company Awitec, gathered responses from 130 business leaders, finance executives, human resources managers and senior decision-makers. More than half of those surveyed acknowledged having shared professional data with an unsecured AI platform.

The survey also identified gaps in awareness of the European Union’s AI Act, alongside limited measurement of the financial returns generated by AI tools. These findings suggest that adopting new software is only part of the challenge; businesses must also establish clear policies governing data confidentiality, staff responsibilities and the evaluation of AI-generated outputs.

Among respondents, 50% had tried AI without using it regularly for professional tasks, while 33% used it for reflection or decision support and 17% were experimenting with automation and AI agents.

The findings point to an important issue for Martinique companies: employees may be experimenting with AI before their organisations have defined which information can safely be entered into external tools. Sensitive customer records, financial information, internal documents and personal data can require stronger safeguards.

The survey is based on a specific group of 130 participating decision-makers, so its findings should not be treated as representative of every business in Martinique. Nevertheless, it highlights why technology adoption needs to go hand in hand with cybersecurity awareness, employee training and responsible AI governance.

For local businesses seeking productivity gains, the message is clear: use AI strategically, protect confidential information and establish rules before expanding its use across the organisation.