Last year, Proton, the company dedicated to enhancing user privacy in productivity apps, introduced a public AI chatbot named Lumo. An upgrade for the chatbot was released on Tuesday.

Lumo 2.0 introduces a range of new features, including the ability to recognize and generate images. Users can now upload images into Lumo and utilize the chatbot to analyze or modify them. Like other large language models, Lumo can also create visuals based on user prompts.

The 2.0 update also enhances Lumo’s functions for Projects — the feature that enables users to upload files and work via Proton’s additional services such as email and cloud storage. Projects now come equipped with user-controlled persistent memory, allowing Lumo to remember a user’s preferences across different conversational interactions.

Furthermore, the update significantly boosts Lumo’s performance compared to its earlier version. According to the company, the 2.0 version processes most inquiries up to 76% faster than its predecessor. It also introduces a new “thinking mode” designed for handling more intricate questions or problems.

“Lumo 2.0 has been completely revamped, and the addition of thinking mode empowers it with robust new features,” stated Andy Yen, founder and CEO of Proton. “Lumo 2.0 exemplifies that users can have both advanced AI functionalities and substantial privacy safeguards.”

In terms of utility, the public version of Lumo is comparable to other leading chatbots. It responds to inquiries in a manner similar to Gemini and ChatGPT, offering roughly the same detail and context.

However, Proton sets Lumo apart from other chatbot services by emphasizing its privacy measures. It utilizes what it describes as zero-access encryption architecture, which ensures that users’ data is encrypted during transmission and storage, accessible solely to the user. The company also asserts that no server-side session logs are maintained, meaning no one at Proton can access the content of conversations. Proton further commits to never using customer data for AI training or sharing it with third-parties.

Lumo 2.0 is now available to users. Alongside the free public version, Proton has paid tiers (Plus and Professional) that offer users significantly greater access and features.