Proton, the company behind ProtonMail, has launched Lumo, an AI assistant designed to prioritize user privacy. Lumo offers features like document summarization, code generation, and email writing, while storing data locally on users' devices using "zero-access" encryption. This encryption prevents Proton from accessing user information, ensuring data isn't shared with third parties, including governments or advertisers, or used for training large language models. Data transmission uses TLS encryption, and prompts are asymmetrically encrypted.

Lumo's web search functionality is disabled by default, but users can enable it to utilize privacy-focused search engines. Uploaded files are analyzed but not saved. Proton Drive integration is also available, maintaining end-to-end encryption. The chatbot is powered by several open-source large language models, including Mistral's Nemo and Nvidia's OpenHands, selecting the model best suited for each query.

Lumo is available at lumo.proton.me and via iOS/Android apps. Free users have limited queries and chat history, while a paid Lumo Plus plan offers unlimited access and features. Proton CEO Andy Yen positions Lumo as an alternative to AI chatbots from larger companies, arguing that "Big Tech is using AI to supercharge the collection of sensitive user data to accelerate the world’s transition to surveillance capitalism."

Impact Statement: Lumo's launch presents a privacy-conscious alternative in the growing AI chatbot market.