LibreOffice says 'no AI' is now a software feature

The Document Foundation announced that LibreOffice will not include any AI features in its default installation for the foreseeable future, explicitly keeping generative AI out of the core product. The rationale is privacy and auditability: LibreOffice is designed to function offline so users’ documents are never sent to external servers, a requirement the foundation says is essential for organizations handling confidential, legally privileged or personal data. The organization reiterated that the current release contains no generative AI capabilities and framed the choice as a deliberate design position to preserve user control over data for tens of millions of users.

At the same time, LibreOffice isn’t banning AI outright: users who want AI can add it via extensions, ideally connecting to local models. The foundation set criteria any integrated AI would need to meet - data must remain on-device, there should be no reliance on a single external AI provider, and core functionality must not require network access - and judged current offerings as not meeting those standards. The move runs counter to the industry push to bake AI into everything and positions LibreOffice as an open-source alternative for users and organizations prioritizing privacy and minimal vendor dependency while staying open to future, more privacy-respecting AI developments.