Lumo by Proton: The AI Chatbot That Keeps Your Data Private
Proton, the company behind Proton Mail, has introduced Lumo, a privacy-centric AI chatbot designed to handle a variety of tasks. These include generating code, drafting emails, summarising documents, and more. Unlike many AI models that store data remotely, Lumo stores all data locally on users’ devices. As a result, sensitive information stays private and secure.
To further protect users, Proton employs “zero-access” encryption. This system gives each user a unique encryption key, preventing anyone including Proton from accessing their data. Because of this, the company cannot share or view personal information. Data transmitted to Lumo is secured with Transport Layer Security (TLS), and prompts are asymmetrically encrypted. Only the Lumo GPU servers can decrypt them.
Lumo uses open-source language models that run on Proton’s European servers. These include Mistral’s Nemo, Mistral Small 3, Nvidia’s OpenHands 32B, and the Allen Institute for AI’s OLMO 2 32B. The chatbot can switch between these models based on the nature of the user’s request, improving relevance and performance.
Security Features That Go Beyond Expectations
Lumo offers several features focused entirely on maintaining user privacy. For instance, Ghost mode ensures that active chat sessions are not saved even locally. This feature allows users to interact without worrying about long-term data storage.
Although the chatbot includes an internet search option, it remains disabled by default. Users must activate it manually. When enabled, Lumo uses privacy-friendly search engines to deliver relevant information while keeping tracking at bay. This design helps users stay informed without compromising security.
Lumo can also analyse uploaded files, but it does not retain them. Instead, it processes the content in real-time and discards it afterward. Moreover, integration with Proton Drive allows users to share end-to-end encrypted files with the chatbot. These files maintain their encryption throughout interactions.
Pricing and Access Options
The chatbot is available in both free and premium tiers. Users without a Lumo or Proton account may submit up to 25 queries per week, though they will not have access to chat history. Those with a free account can ask up to 100 questions weekly.
For more demanding users, the Lumo Plus plan offers extended capabilities. Priced at $12.99 per month, it includes unlimited chats, longer encrypted chat history, and additional features. This option ensures that users who rely on the chatbot frequently can do so without restrictions.
Whether users are tech-savvy or simply privacy-conscious, Lumo presents a strong alternative to mainstream chatbots. Because Proton built it with user privacy in mind, it stands out in a crowded AI landscape.
