In 2026, generative AI is everywhere. It drafts your emails, analyzes your financial statements, and optimizes your code. But behind this technological feat lies a major flaw: where do the data you share with these models actually go?

At Oriso, we believe innovation should never come at the expense of ownership. In this article, we tackle a critical angle: how to take advantage of the AI revolution without losing control of your most valuable assets…

AI Changes Everything… Except Where Your Data Needs to Stay

As Les Affaires points out, using AI is not without risk for intellectual property. Many companies send sensitive data en masse to foreign servers without realizing that these models “learn” from every interaction.

“…AI models train in part on data provided through interactions between users and the AI, and can thus surface key information from one company to another user.”

The AI race won’t be won solely by the fastest tools, but by the most secure ones. If AI is the lever for your productivity, governance is the essential firewall. By entrusting your information to public servers, you risk having the AI “repeat” your trade secrets to third parties. For a Quebec business to innovate with peace of mind, it must ensure its data stays in a secure environment.

Source: lesaffaires.com

Widespread Use and Legal Obligations in Quebec

AI adoption in Quebec is accelerating, but data protection remains a major concern. Recent usage statistics published by Isarta on March 25, 2026 reveal a striking contrast between habits and security:

• Growing adoption at work: 46% of Quebec internet users now use AI as part of their job, up from 41% the previous year.
• Widespread distrust: despite this usage, 63% of internet users say they are concerned about the security and confidentiality of their data when using generative AI. This reluctance shows up in practice: only 11% would be willing to share financial investment choices, and 24% employment-related information.
• The risk of a “policy vacuum”: oversight from employers remains unclear. While 44% of companies allow AI use, more than half of workers operate without clear guidelines: 21% of employers have no official position, and 32% of employees simply don’t know what their company’s policy is.

Source: isarta.com

Digital Sovereignty: Your Strategic Shield

Digital sovereignty addresses the concerns of the 63% of worried Quebec users while securing the work of the 46% of employees already active on AI:

• Maintaining autonomy: by preventing your strategic information from being absorbed by foreign platforms.
• Closing the policy gap: by providing sovereign tools and clear policies, you protect employees who are using AI without direction.
• Ensuring compliance: meeting confidentiality obligations is simplified when the company controls the environment in which the AI operates.

Legal: The Quebec Bar Sounds the Alarm

As proof of how serious these issues are, since April 1, 2026, the Barreau du Québec has launched mandatory training for all its members titled Governing Generative AI in the Practice of Law: Ethical and Professional Benchmarks.

This decision highlights critical points that concern not just the practice of law, but all organizations:

• Protecting professional secrecy: the use of AI must never compromise the confidentiality of information.
• Duty of competence: professionals must understand the technological risks before integrating these tools.
• Civil liability: unregulated use of AI can create professional liability risks if sensitive data is processed by unsecured third-party systems.

Source: barreau.qc.ca

In Summary

As you can see, data sovereignty is the foundation on which your clients’ and employees’ trust rests. Using AI isn’t enough — you need to master both its use and its infrastructure!