Proton Mail introduces AI writing assistant with a focus on privacy
Proton Mail has introduced a new AI-driven feature called Proton Scribe, aimed at enhancing its email service to compete with Google and Microsoft. This writing assistant helps users compose and refine their drafts while prioritizing privacy. Unlike its competitors, Proton Scribe does not have access to users’ inbox data due to the platform’s strict encryption policies. Additionally, Proton Mail does not store or track any information from email drafts.
According to Proton, the writing assistant was one of the most requested features in a recent user survey. The company designed it as a safe alternative to other generative AI options. Scribe can be run locally if your system is compatible. Otherwise, you can use it on Proton’s non-log servers. The assistant works with open source models and code. As such, Proton says the tool itself is open source and that independent researchers are free to conduct privacy and security audits.
Scribe can be accessed by clicking the pen icon in the Proton Mail composer. After you tell the tool what you want to say in the email, it creates a draft for you. You can use the Shorten and Proofread options to condense and clean up your draft. There is also the option to make your email tone more formal with the click of a button. You can review and edit your drafts before sending them.
Proton says Scribe only fully supports English for now, and will roll out the assistant to eligible users. Visionary and Lifetime subscribers get access at no additional cost. Those with a Proton Business Plan – Mail Essentials, Mail Professional or Proton Business Suite – can try Proton Scribe for free for 14 days. After that, the tool costs $3 per month per user.
