Lumo (AI assistant)
| Lumo | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Proton AG |
| Release | July 23, 2025 |
| Stable release | 2.0
/ June 30, 2026 |
| Written in | TypeScript |
| Operating system | Web, iOS, Android |
| Type | Artificial intelligence assistant |
| License |
|
| Website | lumo |
| Repository | github |
Lumo is an online chatbot and personal assistant developed by Proton AG. The service saves chat histories in encrypted storage, and states that it does not employ user data for model training.[2]
History
[edit]Lumo was created by Proton, the Swiss company behind services such as Proton Mail, Proton VPN, Proton Pass, and Proton Drive.[3][4][2][5] Development was led by Proton’s machine learning team.[6] The product was officially launched on 23 July 2025.[7][8] On 21 August 2025, Proton released version 1.1, which included performance improvements and upgraded models to enable more complex requests.[6][9] On 16 October, Proton released version 1.2, which included dark mode, bug fixes and chat personalisation.[10] On 30 October, Proton released their Lumo for Business plan, which is a large scale AI platform for business and is integrated with Proton Business Suite.[11] On 30 June 2026, Proton released version 2.0 which included image generation and recognition, new advanced thinking models, and deeper context with memories. Version 2.0 also brings a new design to the web and mobile apps.[12]
Features
[edit]Lumo allows users to summarize documents, generate code, and compose text.[13] It incorporates privacy measures consistent with Proton's other services. At launch, Proton stated that Lumo conversations are not logged and that chat logs are stored with end-to-end encryption.[7] The system does not use conversations to train the large language models. Lumo's mobile and web apps are open-source.[3][14][15]
The assistant can be used without an account. Creating a Proton account enables synchronisation access to encrypted chat histories across multi-devices.[2][16]
It is available as a web application and through iOS and Android mobile apps.[17][7][18]
Reception
[edit]PCMag described Lumo as a "ChatGPT alternative" that is focused on privacy.[17]
TechRadar wrote that Proton had created "a super secure and private AI chatbot", highlighting it as a safer choice for handling confidential information.[3] TechCrunch reported that Lumo "encrypts all chats, and keeps no logs."
Tom's Hardware wrote that Lumo's "real innovation lies in the zero-access encryption system, which guarantees users an exclusive decryption key. This mechanism prevents third parties, including Proton itself, from accessing content generated or processed by the virtual assistant. Data is stored locally on users' devices, creating an impenetrable technical barrier for governments, advertisers and anyone else who wants to access personal information."[14]
Engadget similarly emphasized that "not even Proton can view your chats. As a result, the company can't share your data with governments, advertisers or, for that matter, any other company, and it can't use your data to train future AI models."[2]
The European Open Source AI Index was critical of Proton describing Lumo as "open source", calling Lumo "the least open 'open' AI assistant" and stating that Proton had "open-sourced neither the Lumo system prompt nor the mysterious routing methods that decide which model will handle [the user's] query". The index wrote that "the only open source code we have found is for the Lumo mobile and web apps. Proton calling the Lumo AI assistant open source based on that is a bit like Microsoft calling Windows open source just because there's a github repository for Windows Terminal".[19]
In October, Lumo was spotlighted by Time as a special mention in the magazine's "Best Inventions of 2025" list.[20]
References
[edit]- ↑ "WebClients/LICENSE at main · ProtonMail/WebClients". 26 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2026 – via GitHub.
- 1 2 3 4 "Proton's privacy-focused Lumo chatbot encrypts all your conversations". Engadget. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- 1 2 3 "ChatGPT, meet your privacy-focused rival: Proton Mail's creator launches a super-secure AI chatbot". TechRadar. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Kampf um Regulierung: Schweizer Techfirma protestiert gegen «Überwachung» und investiert fortan im Ausland". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). 23 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ bio, See full. "Lumo Is Proton's Privacy-First Alternative to ChatGPT and Other AI Chatbots". CNET. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- 1 2 "With Lumo, Proton thinks it can carve a place at the AI table". Engadget. 17 September 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- 1 2 3 Mehta, Ivan (23 July 2025). "Proton's new privacy-first AI assistant encrypts all chats, keeps no logs". TechCrunch. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Une IA qui respecte vos données et votre vie privée ? Peut-être…". 20 Minutes (in French). 23 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "The first update for Proton's privacy-focused chatbot offers major performance improvements". Engadget. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Introducing Lumo 1.2 for enhanced customization". Proton. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ "Introducing Lumo for Business, confidential AI for your team". Proton. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ↑ Ropek, Lucas (30 June 2026). "Lumo, Proton's privacy-focused AI chatbot, gets an upgrade". TechCrunch. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- ↑ Roth, Emma (23 July 2025). "Proton is launching a privacy-focused AI chatbot". The Verge. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- 1 2 "Proton svela il suo chatbot AI: la privacy prima di tutto". Tom's Hardware (in Italian). 23 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "4 things Proton's privacy-first AI chatbot Lumo can do - and how to try it". ZDNET. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Η Proton παρουσιάζει το Lumo, ένα AI chatbot που δίνει προτεραιότητα στο απόρρητο και την ιδιωτικότητα". PCMag Greece (in Greek). 23 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- 1 2 "Proton's New Lumo AI Chatbot Puts Privacy First With Its ChatGPT Alternative". PCMag UK. 23 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Proton Launches Lumo, a Privacy-Focused AI Chatbot". Extreme Tech via Yahoo Tech. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ↑ "Lumo: the least open 'open' AI assistant". European Open Source AI Index. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ↑ "Proton Lumo". TIME. 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- 2025 in artificial intelligence
- 2025 software
- Cats in popular culture
- Chatbots
- Free and open-source Android software
- Free software programmed in TypeScript
- Freemium software
- Generative pre-trained transformers
- Large language models
- Privacy software
- Proton AG
- Software using the GNU General Public License
- Virtual assistants