Proton’s Lumo 2.0 brings image recognition, generation, and persistent memory to its privacy-first AI chatbot

Proton, the company best known for its encrypted email and cloud storage services, has rolled out a significant update to its privacy-focused AI chatbot, Lumo. The new version, Lumo 2.0, introduces image recognition and generation capabilities, along with persistent memory and a faster response engine, all while maintaining the company’s core promise of user privacy.

What Lumo 2.0 brings to the table

First released as a public beta in late 2024, Lumo was Proton’s answer to the growing demand for AI assistants that do not mine user data for training or advertising. With version 2.0, the chatbot gains multimodal abilities. Users can now upload images for analysis or editing — for example, asking Lumo to identify objects in a photo, remove backgrounds, or adjust colors. The chatbot can also generate original images from text prompts, placing it in direct competition with offerings from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.

Beyond visuals, Lumo 2.0 expands its “Projects” feature, which allows users to upload documents and interact with them across Proton’s ecosystem — including email, calendar, and cloud storage. Projects now include user-controlled persistent memory, meaning Lumo can recall preferences and context from previous conversations, making interactions more coherent over time without compromising privacy.

Performance and privacy: the core differentiator

Proton claims Lumo 2.0 responds to queries up to 76 percent faster than its predecessor. The update also introduces a “thinking mode” designed for complex, multi-step reasoning tasks — such as debugging code or analyzing legal documents. CEO Andy Yen emphasized in a statement that the upgrade demonstrates users “no longer need to choose between powerful AI capabilities and meaningful privacy protections.”

What truly sets Lumo apart from mainstream chatbots is its privacy architecture. Proton employs zero-access encryption, meaning user data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, and only the user holds the decryption keys. The company states that no server-side logging of sessions is retained, so even Proton employees cannot view conversation contents. Furthermore, Proton commits to never using customer data for AI training or sharing it with third parties — a stark contrast to many free AI services that rely on data monetization.

Availability and pricing

Lumo 2.0 is available immediately. A free tier offers basic access, while paid Plus and Professional plans provide higher usage limits, faster response times, and additional features such as longer context windows and priority support. The free version remains functional for casual use, but power users will likely need a subscription for heavy workloads.

Why this matters

The AI chatbot market has become increasingly crowded, with major players competing on raw capability and scale. Proton’s approach — prioritizing privacy as a foundational feature rather than an afterthought — appeals to a growing segment of users concerned about how their data is handled. For journalists, legal professionals, and anyone handling sensitive information, Lumo offers a viable alternative to services that may log or repurpose conversations.

However, Proton faces an uphill battle in convincing users to switch from entrenched platforms like ChatGPT or Gemini. While Lumo 2.0’s feature set is now broadly comparable, its user base remains smaller, and its ecosystem integration is limited to Proton’s own products. The company will need to continue innovating on both capability and usability to gain meaningful market share.

Conclusion

Lumo 2.0 marks a meaningful step forward for privacy-first AI. By adding image recognition, generation, persistent memory, and faster performance without compromising its zero-access encryption promise, Proton has positioned itself as a credible alternative in the AI assistant space. The upgrade is available now, and for users already invested in Proton’s ecosystem — or those seeking a more private AI experience — it is worth evaluating.

FAQs

Q1: Is Lumo 2.0 free to use?
Yes, there is a free tier with basic functionality. Paid Plus and Professional plans offer higher usage limits and additional features.

Q2: Does Lumo 2.0 use my data for training?
No. Proton states that it never uses customer data for AI training and does not share conversations with third parties. All data is encrypted with zero-access architecture.

Q3: Can Lumo 2.0 generate and edit images?
Yes. Users can upload images for analysis or editing, and Lumo can also generate new images from text prompts, similar to other multimodal AI chatbots.