LibreOffice declares no AI in its default software, citing user privacy
The Document Foundation says LibreOffice will keep AI out of default installations for the foreseeable future, citing privacy. Its software requires no network connection, and user documents are never uploaded to servers for processing.
LibreOffice, the open source document editor, announced in October 2026 that it will not add artificial intelligence to its default software configuration for the foreseeable future, positioning the absence of AI as a deliberate privacy feature.
The Document Foundation, the nonprofit behind LibreOffice, published a blog post this week stating that while it does not reject AI outright, no AI of any kind will be included in the software’s default installation. The announcement followed the release of the latest version of LibreOffice in late August 2026, in which the organization had already confirmed the software “contains no generative AI features.”
The foundation cited user privacy as the central reason for the decision. AI tools typically require data to be uploaded and processed on remote servers, giving users no control over how that data is stored or for how long. LibreOffice said its software is designed so that no user documents are uploaded to a server for processing and no part of the software requires a network connection to function.
“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.
LibreOffice noted there is currently “no integration” that meets all of its requirements, including keeping user data on-device and avoiding reliance on a single AI provider. The organization described its position as an assessment of the technology today rather than a permanent rejection, and said it will “closely monitor where the technology is actually heading.”
Users who want AI capabilities can still access them by installing software extensions that connect LibreOffice to local AI models.
The decision runs counter to a broad trend among software makers adding AI features to their products. LibreOffice said it serves tens of millions of users and organizations, suggesting the privacy-focused stance could appeal to those handling sensitive or regulated data.