Proton launches Lumo, a privacy-first AI chatbot with end-to-end encryption

Proton has launched Lumo, a privacy-focused AI chatbot that promises end-to-end encryption and zero data logging to compete with ChatGPT and Google Gemini. The service positions itself as the first major AI assistant that prioritizes user privacy by storing conversations locally on devices rather than on company servers, appealing to users concerned about data security in AI interactions.

What you should know: Lumo operates under Proton’s established privacy framework, ensuring conversations remain encrypted and inaccessible to the company or third parties.

• Chats are stored locally on user devices and don’t sync across multiple devices, even for logged-in users.
• All queries are processed through Proton’s European data centers, making them immune to US law enforcement disclosure demands.
• The service uses open-source AI models built in Europe, with no association to OpenAI or American and Chinese AI companies.
• Users can access Lumo without creating an account, though logging in enables chat history functionality.

Key features: The chatbot offers standard AI capabilities while maintaining strict privacy controls.

• Lumo can process text and voice queries, search the web, write code, and summarize documents like PDFs and DOC files.
• The service currently cannot handle media files such as images or videos for input or generation.
• Available across Android, iOS, and web platforms.

Pricing structure: Proton offers both free and premium tiers with distinct limitations and benefits.

• The free tier includes slower processing speeds, daily usage limits, and file size restrictions.
• Lumo Plus costs €9.99 (~$11.70) monthly and provides unlimited chats, extended chat history, and support for multiple file uploads per query.

Why this matters: Lumo represents the first major attempt to bring privacy-first principles to AI chatbots, addressing growing concerns about how AI companies use personal data for model training and improvement.