Proton ships Lumo 2.0 with image generation and private memory

*Proton rebuilt its privacy-first chatbot on new architecture that adds image tools and faster reasoning while keeping zero-access encryption.*

Proton released Lumo 2.0, the largest update yet to its AI assistant. The new version introduces image generation, image recognition, conversation memory, and private web search on top of a rebuilt backend.

The company launched the original Lumo last summer as a no-logs alternative to mainstream chatbots. Lumo 2.0 keeps the same Swiss privacy commitments—no data sharing and zero-access encryption—while adding capabilities that previously required sending user data to third-party model providers.

New architecture and speed

Proton says the update rests on a fresh model architecture that supports two modes: Fast for quick answers and Thinking for multi-step tasks. Everyday queries now run up to 76 percent faster than in version 1.4. The change also enables multimodal input, so users can upload images for analysis or generate new ones directly inside the chat.

Added features

Memory lets the assistant retain context across sessions without storing plaintext logs on Proton’s servers. Private web search routes queries through Proton’s own infrastructure rather than handing them to commercial search engines. Image generation runs under the same encryption model, according to the company’s announcement.

Reactions

No independent benchmarks or third-party audits of the new claims have appeared yet. Proton’s statements on speed and privacy rest on internal testing and its established encryption architecture.

Why it matters

Most consumer AI tools still trade user data for capability. Lumo 2.0 shows a smaller provider can match basic multimodal features without that trade-off, though it remains to be seen whether the performance and feature depth will satisfy users who already pay for mainstream services. The test will come when people compare real outputs and retention behavior side by side.

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Sources:

• 9to5Mac
• MacRumors
• Neowin

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