Proton Launches Lumo: A Privacy-First AI Chatbot Challenging Big Tech

Proton, the company behind the widely used encrypted email service Proton Mail, has officially launched Lumo, an innovative AI assistant designed with a strong emphasis on user privacy. This new chatbot offers a suite of features including document summarization, code generation, and email writing, all while prioritizing data security.

Lumo sets itself apart by storing user data locally on devices and implementing “zero-access” encryption. This advanced security measure ensures that only the user possesses the encryption key, preventing Proton or any third party from accessing personal information. Proton explicitly states that this approach guarantees user data will not be shared with advertisers or governments, nor will it be used for training large language models – a significant departure from many mainstream AI services.

While Lumo includes web search capabilities, this feature is turned off by default to maximize privacy, activating only with user consent and utilizing “privacy-friendly” search engines. The chatbot can also analyze uploaded files without retaining their content and seamlessly integrates with Proton Drive, maintaining end-to-end encryption for linked files.

Proton CEO Andy Yen positions Lumo as a direct alternative to offerings from tech giants such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Meta AI, and Microsoft Copilot. Yen asserts that Lumo embodies “AI that puts people ahead of profits,” aiming to counteract the trend of “surveillance capitalism” driven by Big Tech’s extensive data collection.

Powered by open-source large language models including Mistral’s Nemo and Nvidia’s OpenHands 32B, Lumo’s processing occurs on Proton’s secure servers in Europe. The chatbot intelligently selects the most suitable model for each query, optimizing performance for specific tasks like coding. Lumo is now accessible via lumo.proton.me and dedicated iOS and Android applications, with tiered access ranging from limited free usage to a comprehensive $12.99/month Lumo Plus plan offering unlimited chats and extended features.

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