Proton Plans to Stop Hiring Engineers as AI Takes Over Coding Work

Swiss technology company Proton plans to stop hiring traditional software engineers after the end of 2026, shifting its recruitment strategy towards professionals who can use artificial intelligence (AI) to develop products. The move reflects the company's growing reliance on AI tools and its plans to make AI-assisted development a central part of its operations.

Proton, known for its encrypted email and privacy-focused services, intends to adopt this approach from 2027. CEO Andy Yen outlined the strategy in an internal Slack conversation with employees in August.

Under the proposed model, developers would spend less time writing code manually and more time instructing AI systems, preparing tests and reviewing the code they generate. Former product management roles are also expected to take on a greater role in the product development process.

Proton Is Moving Towards AI-Led Software Development

The company's decision is part of a broader effort to integrate AI into everyday operations. Instead of recruiting engineers primarily for traditional coding responsibilities, Proton wants to hire people who can use AI tools effectively to build and improve products.

The shift could change how software development teams are organised, with greater emphasis on AI supervision, product planning, testing and quality control.

However, the transition has also raised concerns about the future of engineering jobs and the level of human oversight required when AI systems generate software.

AI Reportedly Generates 90% of Proton's Code

Proton has already adopted AI extensively within its engineering operations. According to a company meeting cited by 404 Media, CTO Bart Butler told employees in October that AI was generating approximately 90% of the company's code.

Employees reportedly identified Anthropic's Claude as one of the main AI tools being used for development.

The company's AI adoption is not limited to engineering. Internal guidelines reportedly allow employees to use AI for tasks such as processing financial data and preparing responses to customers on platforms including Reddit and LinkedIn.

Proton has also reportedly installed software on employees' computers to measure the amount of code they produce using AI tools.

Employees Raise Concerns About Code Security

Despite the company's push towards faster AI-assisted development, some employees have expressed concerns about the potential risks.

One employee reportedly questioned the practice of releasing newly generated code without allowing sufficient time for security testing. The concern is particularly significant for Proton because its products handle sensitive user information and depend on strong privacy and security protections.

AI-generated code can speed up development, but it still requires careful human review, testing and security checks before being deployed.

What Proton's Decision Could Mean for Engineering Jobs

Proton's recruitment strategy highlights a possible shift in the skills technology companies may prioritise. Traditional coding experience could increasingly be combined with the ability to work with AI systems, evaluate their output and identify technical problems.

The move also raises broader questions about job security for software engineers as companies expand their use of AI-assisted development.

For now, Proton's plan signals a significant change in its hiring approach. Whether other technology companies follow a similar model may depend on how effectively AI can support product development without compromising software quality and security.