Proton to Re-Interview Staff on AI Use, With Employment at Stake

Proton, the company behind ProtonMail and other privacy-focused products, has told staff that it will re-interview employees across the company about how they use artificial intelligence in their jobs, according to an internal email obtained by 404 Media. The email says the interviews may inform a broader review of the organization and talent, and that review may lead to changes in roles, responsibilities, and continued employment. Proton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What the email says

The email states: "These re-interviews are consequential." It adds that interviewers will document their assessments, which will inform that broader review, and that individual outcomes will be communicated directly once decisions are finalized.

The email also says the company needs people who can translate AI's capabilities into better products, stronger execution, and new ways of working, and who approach the change with curiosity, judgment, and urgency. It says not everyone in the company will be re-interviewed, and that any decisions affecting employment will be communicated separately.

How the process will work

According to the email, Proton CEO Andy Yen interviewed more than 40 senior leaders across Engineering and Product to begin the process, and those interviews are now extending across the company. Yen has steadily pushed the company toward more AI use, including launching Lumo, a privacy-focused chatbot. Interviewers will come from outside a staff member's team and reporting line, from a pool of leaders who demonstrate strong AI capability and have aligned on assessment criteria.

The re-interviews will take place between November 4 and 11. The email acknowledges that the process creates uncertainty and says the company will be clear about what has been decided and what remains open, with individual outcomes communicated as soon as possible.

Sources: 404 Media