Proton Unveils Privacy-Focused AI Email Assistant Running On-Device

In a groundbreaking move that addresses the growing concerns over data privacy, Proton has launched Proton Scribe, a privacy-first AI writing assistant tailored for email use. Unlike most AI tools on the market, this assistant operates directly on users' devices, safeguarding sensitive information from being transmitted to external servers. Proton has been a forerunner in privacy-centric technology, offering services like encrypted email, VPN, and file storage, making it the go-to choice for users wary of data breaches. This new tool marks a significant progression in Proton's journey, providing an effective AI solution without compromising user privacy.

Proton Scribe leverages the Mistral 7B, an open-source language model developed by French AI startup Mistral, to help users draft and polish their emails efficiently. Operating under the open-source GPL-3.0 license, Proton Scribe ensures transparency and allows for external security audits. With this setup, Proton aims to tackle a pressing issue—businesses' hesitancy towards generative AI due to privacy concerns. Proton Scribe can perform all its functions locally, meaning user data never leaves the device, addressing one of the primary hurdles to AI adoption in corporate settings.

Those who prefer an even faster performance can opt to run Proton Scribe on Proton's servers. In this scenario, only the user's prompt is transmitted and no data is stored after the email draft is created. This dual-option functionality offers flexibility for various user preferences and hardware capabilities. The tool comes with a straightforward setup process, requiring users to download the model once, which then runs seamlessly on their device. This balance of performance and privacy underscores Proton's commitment to user-centric design, providing high functionality without sacrificing data security.

One of the notable limitations of Proton Scribe is its lack of personalization. Given that it doesn’t use any local data to refine its outputs, the responses may appear generic. However, Proton has introduced several "quick actions" features to make it easier for users to tweak the drafts. These include options for changing the tone, proofreading, and making texts more concise. As Proton continues to refine the tool, future updates might incorporate more context-aware features while maintaining a privacy-centric framework. This ensures that users will continually see improvements without forgoing the security they've come to expect from Proton.

Currently, Proton Scribe is available for Proton Mail on web and desktop platforms, with plans to expand to mobile devices in the future. The assistant is offered as an add-on for $2.99 per month for certain business plans. Meanwhile, users on legacy plans like Visionary or Lifetime will enjoy the feature at no additional cost. Providing Proton Scribe as an optional enhancement aligns with Proton’s philosophy of empowering users with tools that protect their digital footprint. Depending on demand, the company might extend this feature to other services within its ecosystem, such as its newly launched collaborative document editing app. This launch represents a pivotal moment for Proton as they continue to innovate while prioritizing user privacy.