LibreOffice has made a deliberate choice: it will not add artificial intelligence to its software. The Document Foundation, the nonprofit behind the open-source document editor, announced this week that it will not add AI features for the foreseeable future.
The decision is a sharp contrast to the prevailing trend. It is also a reminder that not every tool needs to be smart to be useful.
What the Blog Post Says
In a blog post this week, the foundation explained its position. While it does not reject AI entirely, it “will not add” AI to its software for the foreseeable future. The post repeats a promise made in the latest version of LibreOffice, released in late August. That version “contains no generative AI features,” according to the foundation.
The foundation framed this as a “deliberate design position.” The goal is simple: ensure that users’ documents are not uploaded to a server for processing, and that no part of the software requires a network connection to function. The nonprofit estimates that its software is used by tens of millions of people and organizations. It wants users to retain control over their data.
“Any organisation handling confidential, legally privileged or personal data needs to know where that data goes, and the only assurance that survives an audit is that it does not leave the machine,” the organization said.
Why Extensions Are Still Allowed
LibreOffice is not banning AI entirely. Users can still choose to use AI tools by installing software extensions that connect the document editor to local AI models. The foundation sees this as a compromise that respects the user’s choice while maintaining its core principles.
The distinction matters. A default installation that is AI-free means users do not have to opt out of unwanted features. They can opt in later, if they want. That is a design philosophy that puts control in the hands of the person using the software.
The Case Against AI Integration
The foundation’s reasoning is straightforward. AI tools often require users’ data to be uploaded and processed on a remote server. Once the data is off the machine, the user loses control over how it is stored and for how long. The foundation believes that users should know where their data goes, and the only assurance that survives an audit is that it does not leave the machine.
There is also the broader trend of “enshittification.” That is the term used to describe the packing in of unnecessary and bloated features, like chatbots and AI assistants, which prompted some developers to create or include features that block or remove AI features altogether.
The Integration Problem
The foundation says there is currently “no integration” that meets all of its requirements. Those requirements include ensuring that users’ data stays on their device and that there is no reliance on a single AI provider. The foundation’s criteria for including AI into its software is not a “definitive rejection,” but rather an assessment of the technology today. It is not a judgement on the value of the sector.
The foundation’s position is nuanced. It is not anti-AI. It is pro-control. The difference is significant.
What Comes Next
Until there is an integration that meets its requirements, there will be no AI of any kind in the default installation. Extensions will be available for those who wish to integrate AI features, and the foundation will closely monitor where the technology is actually heading.
The foundation’s blog post closed with that commitment. It is a promise to the user base.
Related Features Worth Watching
- The “enshittification” trend, where developers pack in unnecessary features like chatbots and AI assistants
- The rise of extensions that let users add AI features to apps that don’t include them by default
- The push for software that keeps data on-device and avoids relying on a single AI provider
These trends are shaping how software makers balance feature density with user trust. The foundation’s decision is one example of a company choosing control over convenience.
Timeline of Key Announcements
| Date | Announcement |
|---|---|
| Late August | Latest version of LibreOffice released, containing no generative AI features |
| This week | Blog post confirming the foundation “will not add” AI for the foreseeable future |
The foundation’s position is clear. It is a position worth respecting.
The foundation’s decision is a statement about what it values: privacy, control, and the ability to know where your data goes. Until AI integration meets its requirements, there will be no AI in the default installation. Extensions will be available for those who want them. The foundation will monitor where the technology is heading.
Source material: “LibreOffice says ‘no AI’ is now a software feature,” TechCrunch.
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