The Document Foundation, the nonprofit behind LibreOffice, has made its position on artificial intelligence unmistakably clear: the open-source office suite will not add AI features to its default configuration for the foreseeable future. In a blog post responding to criticism over the software's lack of AI tools, founding member Italo Vignoli declared that 'no AI is now a feature.'

What You Need to Know

LibreOffice's decision stems from a commitment to privacy, security and user control. The Document Foundation insists that any AI feature must be installable, removable and completely absent from the interface for users who choose not to use it. Because LibreOffice enforces strict principles including no telemetry, no dependency on a single provider and no data leaving a computer without permission, the foundation has found no existing AI solution that meets all its requirements. Users, however, remain free to add third-party AI extensions on their own if they are willing to compromise on those principles.

The Document Foundation's Stance on AI

Vignoli explained in a detailed post that the project does not categorically reject AI. The foundation acknowledges that future advancements could lead to a viable, principle-aligned option. But for now, LibreOffice will not ship AI by default. The decision takes direct aim at rival productivity suites from companies such as Microsoft and Google, which embed AI features even for users who do not enable them. Vignoli wrote that AI must be 'installable, removable and absent from the user interface for those who do not wish to use it.'

  • Privacy first: LibreOffice refuses to allow any AI that sends user data to external servers without explicit permission.
  • No vendor lock-in: The suite must not rely on a single AI provider, ensuring long-term independence.
  • User agency: AI features must be fully removable and invisible in the UI for those who decline them.

Why This Matters

LibreOffice's position is a rare counterexample in an industry racing to embed generative AI into every application. For the tens of millions of people who use the suite, the lack of default AI means a simpler, more predictable experience free from the data privacy concerns that plague many modern office tools. Organizations that handle sensitive documents such as legal firms, government agencies and healthcare providers gain a clear advantage: they can deploy LibreOffice without worrying about confidential data being siphoned to an AI model. The gamble, however, is that users who expect AI assistance for grammar, summarization or data analysis may migrate to competing products that offer those features out of the box.

What Users Can Do

The Document Foundation leaves the door open for power users. Anyone who wants AI functionality can install community-created extensions that bypass the project's principles. This approach mirrors LibreOffice's long-standing philosophy of giving users full control over their own experience. But the foundation will not endorse or bundle such extensions, and it warns that they may compromise the core values of privacy and autonomy that define the project.

A Deliberate Pause in the AI Race

Vignoli did not present the decision as permanent. He wrote that 'the criteria we have listed do not amount to a definitive rejection,' suggesting that LibreOffice could adopt AI if a solution emerges that respects all of its requirements. Until then, the project will maintain its position. Because LibreOffice prioritizes user trust above feature parity with proprietary competitors, its stand serves as a reminder that not every productivity tool must chase the latest AI trend.