Data protection-friendly AI chatbots: Proton Lumo as a European alternative
Why Lumo is breaking new ground in AI use
Artificial intelligence has long been part of everyday life, and chatbots are among the most popular tools for businesses and private users. But as they become more widespread, awareness of data protection is also growing.
In Europe in particular, there is a growing need for solutions that not only deliver innovative technology but also meet the highest standards of personal data protection. With the launch of Proton Lumo, Swiss provider Proton is sending a strong signal for greater digital self-determination and data security.
Data security in AI: A comparison with conventional chatbots
Many common AI chatbots store user data on servers or even use chat histories to train their models. This poses significant risks – from potential data leaks to unwanted profiling or data misuse. Proton Lumo takes a different approach: All interactions are inaccessible to third parties and are not shared. The chats are encrypted and are only decrypted and processed locally on the end device. In addition, Proton does not store conversations on its own servers, so even if the infrastructure is attacked, no sensitive conversations can be compromised.
Technology and possible uses of Proton Lumo
Versatile language models with a focus on efficiency
Instead of relying on a huge, general AI model, Lumo combines several specialised, lean language models. For example, the OpenHands 32B model delivers excellent results for programming tasks, while other models such as Mistral Small 3 or Nemo from Mistral cover different areas of focus. An intelligent routing system decides which model can provide the best answer for each request. The result: faster results, lower resource consumption and more efficient answers for a wide range of use cases.
Versatile applications – from document analysis to web search
Lumo offers significantly more than conventional AI text assistants. Users can upload files directly to the chat and get help from the AI to summarise, interpret or analyse documents – both text files and more complex formats. For questions that require up-to-date knowledge from the internet, a secure, privacy-friendly web search can be activated. This makes Lumo versatile for both private and business use.
User-friendliness and fair pricing models
Flexible use: guest mode, free and plus versions
Proton Lumo is easy to use in your browser – even without registration. Guest users can try out the chatbot free of charge, but with a limited number of questions per week and without their sessions being saved. Those who have a Proton account get access to the free version, which allows up to 100 queries per week, saves favourite chats and allows files to be uploaded, provided they do not exceed a certain size. For those who want to use Lumo intensively, a Plus version with extended functions and almost unlimited use is available.
Language diversity for the European market
Lumo speaks eleven languages fluently, including German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Russian. The default language is English, but as soon as a question is asked in another supported language, the chatbot responds accordingly. For registered users, Lumo even adapts to the preferred profile language, making it even more intuitive to use. The range of languages is being expanded step by step to offer optimal access to as many users as possible.
Open source and future-proof: Lumo as a transparent AI project
Open source code creates trust
Transparency is another unique feature of Proton Lumo. The chatbot's source code is provided as an open source project and is available to a broad community on GitHub. This allows developers and users to understand how data is processed and to form their own opinion of the security measures in place. This openness promotes trust in the platform and also enables continuous development through external expertise and critical feedback.
Data protection compliance according to European standards
Particularly in the context of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Proton Lumo is an interesting product for companies, educational institutions and public authorities that have to meet the highest requirements. Processed data always remains with the user, no conversation is misused to train the AI, and all communication is encrypted. Companies also benefit from extensive integration options and the option of connecting their own requirements and processes via API.
Conclusion: Secure AI chat for individual requirements
Lumo as a model for responsible use of AI
Proton Lumo proves that technological innovation and strict data protection do not have to be mutually exclusive. The combination of specialised AI architecture, transparency through open source and comprehensive protection of user rights makes Lumo a future-proof solution for both private and business use.
Your next step: Implementing data protection correctly in digitalisation
Would you like more security when using AI or do you need support in selecting and implementing data protection-compliant tools? We would be happy to help you develop and implement the right strategy for your company. Simply get in touch with us and benefit from our experience in IT security and AI solutions.