In a world where artificial intelligence is reshaping how people work and live, questions about privacy and data control loom large. Addressing these concerns, Proton—renowned for its secure email and storage services—has released Lumo, an AI assistant designed from the ground up to put user privacy and data ownership first.

The Problem with Big Tech’s AI

As AI continues to proliferate, major technology companies have often repeated past mistakes—treating users less like individuals and more like data sources. Many leading AI platforms rely on business models fueled by advertising, third-party tracking, and aggressive data collection, turning conversations and personal information into commodities.

Proton’s leadership believes the transformative power of AI should not come at the expense of user trust and security. The risks of compromising personal and sensitive information, whether for individuals or businesses, are too great to ignore.

Meet Lumo: An AI That Works For You—Not the Other Way Around

Lumo arrives as part of Proton’s privacy-focused ecosystem and stands apart from mainstream AI offerings. Its architecture ensures:

• No server-side chat logs: Unlike most providers, Proton’s Lumo never keeps records of your conversations.
• Zero-access encryption: Messages are protected using encryption methods trusted by over 100 million Proton users worldwide. Only you can decrypt your chat history.
• No data sharing with third parties: Lumo doesn’t share, sell, or expose your data to advertisers, vendors, or governmental agencies.
• No AI training on your data: Your questions and documents are never used to improve or train models that could power other users’ experiences.

Why the World Needs Privacy-Centric AI

The adoption of AI has led to new forms of data collection that can be far more intimate than mere browsing or search histories. Day-to-day users, as well as businesses handling confidential materials, face potential data exposure with each query they enter. With most generative AI tools owned and operated in the US or China, legal protections may also be limited.

Lumo seeks to disrupt this paradigm by keeping all processing and data storage under European jurisdiction, underpinned by Proton’s commitment to privacy and operated by the nonprofit Proton Foundation.

Core Features That Set Lumo Apart

Lumo stands out in the AI landscape with a suite of productivity and security features:

• Ghost Mode: Logged-in users can choose for their chats to disappear permanently after closing the window.
• End-to-End Encryption: All personal data remains accessible only to the user—even Proton can’t access decrypted content.
• Web Search and File Uploads: Lumo can pull in up-to-date information from the web or analyze sensitive uploaded files, all without retaining any of the data.
• Proton Drive Integration: Easily add encrypted files directly from Proton Drive into your conversations.

Lumo is built on open-source language models and runs on Proton’s European datacenters—providing unmatched transparency and distancing itself from partnerships with large American or Chinese AI firms.

Seamless, Secure Access for Everyone

Anyone can start a secure chat with Lumo for free—no registration or account required. Users can access the service through a web browser or by downloading the Android or iOS app. Those with Proton accounts benefit from encrypted chat history synchronized securely across devices.

For those who need more features and higher usage limits, Lumo Plus offers premium upgrades and unlimited queries.

Supporting European Digital Sovereignty

Lumo also reflects Proton’s broader strategic vision for technological independence in Europe. In response to new mass surveillance proposals in Switzerland (which clash with EU privacy standards), Proton is moving its infrastructure and services—including Lumo—within the EU for even stronger privacy protections.

The Future of Responsible AI

With Lumo, Proton redefines what it means to have an AI assistant in the digital age—delivering innovation without compromising trust, privacy, or user control. As society navigates the opportunities and challenges brought by AI, Proton’s commitment sets a new benchmark for responsible, privacy-first technology.

Official announcements on Twitter by Proton and Lumo

Lumo vs other AI assistants

Start chat with Lumo: Start chat