The multimodal upgrade allows users to create images from text prompts, edit existing images, analyze photos, documents, charts, and screenshots, and even transform rough sketches into finished visuals. Proton says the same encryption model used for text conversations also protects uploaded and AI-generated images, ensuring they remain accessible only to the user.
Lumo 2.0 also introduces new Fast and Thinking modes to handle different types of requests. Fast mode prioritizes quick responses for everyday interactions, while Thinking mode is designed for more complex, multi-step reasoning tasks. Proton said the newer models deliver significantly stronger performance than Lumo 1.4, with Lumo 2.0 Lite scoring 127% higher and Lumo 2.0 Max scoring 240% higher on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index benchmark, which measures capabilities across coding, reasoning, general knowledge, and agent-based tasks.
Beyond reasoning improvements, Proton has expanded Lumo’s web search capabilities. The assistant can now retrieve current information from across the web, include source citations in its responses, and provide more up-to-date answers for topics such as news, financial information, and weather. Proton says these additions improve accuracy while reducing hallucinations.
The update also expands how Lumo handles long-running work. Memory lets users choose what information the assistant retains across conversations, while the context window has doubled in size to support longer chats, larger documents, and more extensive datasets. Projects continue to provide encrypted workspaces that keep conversations, files, and instructions together for ongoing tasks.
Another new feature, Custom Lumos, allows users to create specialized AI assistants tailored to recurring workflows. Users can define instructions once and have those preferences applied automatically in future conversations without repeating them.
For businesses, Proton is introducing Lumo Professional, which brings administrative controls and collaboration features while maintaining the company’s zero-access encryption model. Proton says conversations are never logged or used to train future AI models, and customer data remains on the company’s European infrastructure.
Lumo 2.0 is available now. Core AI capabilities remain free, while the $10-per-month Lumo Plus subscription includes unlimited chats, Projects, advanced image generation, and priority access to Proton’s more advanced models. Lumo Professional adds premium collaboration features for teams.
“Lumo 2.0 has been re-engineered from the ground up and the introduction of thinking mode gives it powerful new capabilities,” said Proton founder and CEO Andy Yen. “User testing demonstrates that the gap has closed to the point that for many use cases, users can no longer perceive a qualitative difference between Lumo 2.0 Max and the latest models from OpenAI and Anthrophic. Lumo 2.0 demonstrates that users no longer need to choose between powerful AI capabilities and meaningful privacy protections.”
This analysis is based on reporting from engadget and proton.me.
Images courtesy of Proton.me.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
