Proton spam and the AI consent problem

Here is a summary of the 4 most prevalent themes from the Hacker News discussion.

1. Widespread Rejection of "AI Everywhere"

Users express fatigue and resistance to the aggressive integration of AI into all products, viewing it as non-consensual and often detrimental to user experience.

"Has anyone else noticed that the AI industry can’t take “no” for an answer? AI is being force-fed into every corner of tech. It’s unfathomable to them that some of us aren’t interested." — Terr_

"The really strange thing is that so much of it doesn't work. Like I get that the SOTA models perform some tasks quite well and have some real value. But the AI being implemented in every corner creates a lot of really bad results." — hattmall

2. The Destructive Nature of Enshittification

Many participants frame these marketing tactics as symptoms of "enshittification," where companies prioritize growth and hype over user trust, ultimately degrading their products and user relationships.

"I can't help but see the spam as more circumstantial evidence of a bubble, where top-down "pump those numbers" priorities overrides regular process." — Terr_

"This is, btw., a real example. I used a Word document generator with TypingMind and GPT-4 via API, and it was more usable over a year ago than Copilot is even now." — TeMPOraL

3. The Failure of "Consent" in Modern Tech

The discussion highlights how companies deliberately design marketing and subscription settings to ignore user preferences, creating a systemic disrespect for user consent.

"Do tech companies understand consent?:
- [ ] Yes
- [ ] Ask me again in a few days" — littlecranky67

"I don’t know about you, but I think that’s baloney. Proton Support had five full business days to come up with a better excuse. Please tell me, how can I have been any more explicit about opting out of Lumo emails..." — osmsucks

4. The Collapse of "Privacy-First" Brand Promises

Users expressed disappointment and betrayal when privacy-focused companies like Proton adopt the same aggressive marketing tactics as "big tech," eroding the trust that defined their brands.

"It’s bewildering to see privacy-focused companies like Proton and DDG jump on the AI train. I guess privacy is just a vehicle for attracting early adopters, and all those principles fall apart once their user base becomes large enough." — TonyStr

"I've been using Tuta for years. No complaints" — guilhermesfc (implying a migration away from Proton due to these issues)