1 in 6 supply chain professionals report AI-related data exposure, survey finds

One in six supply chain, logistics, distribution and wholesale professionals said their company experienced an incident in the past year in which supplier or customer information was exposed through an artificial intelligence tool, according to a new industry survey.

The findings come as businesses increasingly give AI systems access to sensitive commercial information, raising questions about how the technology handles confidential data belonging to customers and suppliers.

The survey was conducted by InstaLILY, which develops AI agents for distribution, and was fielded through Pollfish. Launched Oct. 9, 2026, it collected 250 responses from managers and executives at companies using AI in their daily operations. It found that 78% of respondents said their company’s AI tools could access customer pricing and margins, while 67% said the tools had access to supplier pricing and rebate information.

InstaLILY defined an incident as a situation in which supplier or customer data was exposed, shared or accessed incorrectly through an AI tool. The results reflect respondents’ reported knowledge and experiences, rather than independently verified data exposures. Also, the report did not assess the severity of the incidents, meaning the findings do not distinguish between minor internal mistakes and more serious incidents.

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