Proton CTO Says AI Is Changing Software Engineering Work

Proton’s public push to use artificial intelligence in software development has put future engineering hires in focus after a private security Slack message attributed to CEO Andy Yen said 2026 would be the company’s last year hiring engineers. Proton says it is recruiting across the organization but has not publicly confirmed a cutoff for engineering roles.

The message attributed to Yen says, “This will be the last year that we hire engineers.” It also describes future hires as building products with AI. Proton’s public hiring statement does not specify whether engineering positions are included.

On Sunday, Nov. 1, Proton Chief Technology Officer Bart Butler published a manifesto describing how AI is changing software development. “Programming” is dead, Butler wrote, while “Engineering is not, nor is expertise.” He argues that engineers should guide AI systems, check their output and correct mistakes while remaining responsible for engineering judgment, testing and documentation.

That position presents AI as a change in engineers’ work, rather than an end to engineering expertise. Butler’s manifesto emphasizes that people still need to oversee the systems producing code and maintain sound development practices.

Proton had planned AI-use re-interviews for employees from Nov. 4-11. An internal email said the discussions could inform decisions about employees’ roles and continued employment. Yen later said the re-interviews would not take place and that no one would lose a job because of them.

Yen said Proton would explain its AI policies and code and security review process, and make several internal tools open source. Proton, a Swiss company, makes Proton Mail and Proton VPN and offers the Lumo AI assistant.