Proton to re-interview staff on AI use – and jobs may be on the line
A leaked internal email from Proton states that employees from across the company will be re-interviewed to assess their ability to use AI – and the results could impact their jobs.
Proton, the privacy-focused digital service provider, is set to conduct re-interviews of its employees to assess their use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their work. The company, known for its Proton Mail and Proton VPN services, sent an internal email to staff on October 26, informing them about the plan. The email states that the re-interviews are "consequential" and will be used to inform a broader review of the organization, potentially affecting individual roles and responsibilities.
The move is part of CEO Andy Yen's strategy to integrate AI more heavily into Proton's operations, including the launch of Lumo, a privacy-focused chatbot. Proton claims it is not conducting layoffs and is instead hiring across the organization. However, the company acknowledges a talent shortage and the need to evolve work methods to remain effective in the AI-driven tech industry.
Proton asserts that it is assessing how employees are adapting to AI tools, identifying the support needed, and determining who can lead this work. The company also aims to evaluate whether employees possess the necessary skills for a post-AI world and will offer necessary support to those who need it. The email explains that not everyone will be re-interviewed, and those invited will be selected based on the organization's assessment needs.
Interviews will be conducted by outsiders with strong AI capabilities, starting from November 4 to 11. Participants are expected to bring concrete examples of their AI use and discuss changes in work, results, lessons learned, and areas for improvement.
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