4 things Proton's privacy-first AI chatbot Lumo can do - and how to try it

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET Proton, the company responsible for Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and more services, is planning to launch a new AI chatbot called Lumo that aims to preserve your privacy. This new chatbot can do things like summarize documents, create code, and just about anything the other chatbots can do. 1. Stores data locally The difference between Lumo and other chatbots is that Lumo stores all data locally, so you don't have to worry that the company has access to your data. Proton takes zero-access seriously, dating back to 2018, when Ben Wolford posted a blog entry stating, "We [Proton] drastically reduce these security and privacy vulnerabilities by using zero-access encryption to ensure that we ourselves do not have access to your data." Also: Want a free VPN? How to use ProtonVPN on Android without having to pay 2. Searches the web According to this report from The Verge, Lumo includes the ability to search the web, but Proton has this feature disabled by default so users will enjoy the maximum privacy possible. If the feature is enabled, Lumo will reach out to the web but only use privacy-focused search engines (such as DuckDuckGo). 3. Upload files for analysis Lumo also allows users to upload files for analysis. For those who are concerned that Proton will retain those documents, fear not, as nothing is saved. Those who use Proton Drive will also be able to link files from the cloud storage to Lumo. To further protect privacy, Proton uses its end-to-end encryption for tighter security. Also: The top 20 AI tools of 2025 - and the #1 thing to remember when you use them As far as LLMs, Lumo uses open-source models such as Nemo, Mistral Small 3, OpenHands 32B, and OLMO 2 32B. Lumo is also capable of automatically using the LLM that is best suited for a query, without the user having to manually switch. 4. Ghost Mode Lumo also includes a Ghost Mode that ensures your current chat disappears forever as soon as you close the app. How to try Lumo Lumo is available to the general public for free, even without a Proton account, and can be accessed from the official site or by installing the mobile app (Android and iOS). Get the morning's top stories in your inbox each day with our Tech Today newsletter.