Proton, the company known for its secure email and VPN services, launches Lumo, its first AI chatbot. Unlike popular alternatives like ChatGPT, Lumo focuses on privacy and data protection. It offers essential chatbot features while ensuring user conversations remain confidential. Proton’s new AI assistant appeals to users who want smart AI without sacrificing control over their data.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Proton introduces Lumo, an AI chatbot designed with privacy as its top priority. The company emphasizes that Lumo keeps conversations confidential and data fully controlled by users. Proton states clearly, “Lumo keeps your conversations confidential and your data fully under your control — never shared, sold, or stolen.” This focus addresses growing concerns about AI chat services’ data misuse.
Many users discuss sensitive topics with chatbots, from health issues to legal matters. Proton recognizes this need for privacy and builds Lumo to meet it, even if the chatbot offers fewer features than rivals like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Lumo does not provide image generation or voice-based search but supports web searching, text writing, and file analysis.
Lumo restricts web access by default. Users can toggle it on or off via a simple button, choosing how much data to share for each query. This flexibility helps users balance privacy with functionality.
Proton’s privacy safeguards extend beyond user control of web access. The company promises never to use chat data to train its AI. All conversations are encrypted and regularly deleted. Proton also refuses to share user data with any external parties.
One standout feature is Ghost mode, which lets users have disappearing chats. The Ghost function, similarly to an incognito browsing mode, preventing the storage or tracking of chat history.
Existing Proton users can integrate Lumo with Proton Drive, enabling the chatbot to securely read and analyze personal documents. This integration enhances productivity while maintaining strong privacy protections.
Lumo is available on the web and as mobile apps for Android and iOS. The free tier allows up to 100 messages per month. For unlimited use, users subscribe to Lumo Plus at $12.99/mo. or $9.99 annually.
Proton Visionary and Lifetime subscribers receive Lumo Plus at no extra cost. However, Proton Unlimited users must pay separately for Lumo Plus, which has caused some dissatisfaction among that group.
By offering a privacy-first AI chatbot, Proton fills a niche for users wary of data exploitation in mainstream AI tools. It’s clear privacy commitments differentiate it in a crowded market.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Proton’s Lumo chatbot brings privacy to the forefront of AI conversations. While it forgoes some advanced features, it gives users control over their data and conversation security. Proton will extend Lumo’s capabilities and user base while maintaining its core privacy promises.
As AI data privacy issues rise, more users may seek alternatives to ChatGPT, like Lumo. The chatbot’s integration with Proton’s ecosystem also positions it well for deeper productivity and secure collaboration. Privacy-focused AI chatbots may be a new standard that users demand.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech