Proton to 'Re-Interview' Staff About AI to See Who Gets to Keep Their Job

Proton, the company behind ProtonMail and other privacy-focused services, plans to “re-interview” some employees about their use of artificial intelligence, according to an internal email obtained by 404 Media. The process is presented as part of a wider review of the company’s organization and talent, and could affect employees’ roles, responsibilities, and continued employment. The email warns staff that the interviews are consequential and says individual decisions will be communicated after the review.

CEO Andy Yen has been pushing Proton toward greater AI adoption, including through Lumo, its privacy-focused chatbot. He has already interviewed more than 40 senior leaders in Engineering and Product, and the process is now expanding to other staff. Proton says it wants employees who can apply AI to improve products and execution, and who respond to change with curiosity, judgment, and urgency. Not every employee will be interviewed; those selected will speak with leaders outside their own teams or reporting lines, drawn from a group that has agreed on assessment criteria. Interviews are scheduled for November 4-11. The company acknowledged that the process creates uncertainty, but said it would clarify what has been decided and what remains open. Proton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.