Proton cancels AI re-interviews

Proton CEO Andy Yen canceled planned AI re-interviews after employees raised concerns and 404 Media published an investigation into the company’s push to adopt AI. The interviews would have asked employees to explain how they were using AI, and, according to six current employees and audio reviewed by 404 Media, staff feared that not using it enough could put their jobs at risk.

Yen said the interviews had already served their purpose by getting employees to talk and learn about AI. He also said the company would keep pushing AI, and that there would be no job losses from AI in a planned reorganization. But employees told 404 Media that AI use could still become part of performance reviews. Their reactions to the cancellation were mixed, and some said they wanted more accountability from leadership. The 404 Media report also describes employee concerns about security and whether they could speak openly about them.

For business owners, the lesson isn’t that AI shouldn’t be part of work. It’s that tying adoption to evaluations can change what employees feel safe saying, including when they see risks. Be clear about what you’re measuring, make room for people to raise concerns, and don’t treat visible AI use as proof that the work is better. This is the kind of issue we build into an AI command centre, where teams can keep track of how AI decisions affect people and processes.