LibreOffice Says ‘No AI’ Is Now a Feature

The organization behind LibreOffice, the open-source document editor, has said it does not plan to add AI to the software's default configuration, citing user privacy. Rather than treating the absence of AI as a gap, the project is framing no AI as a feature in its own right. The idea is that users should not have generative features, cloud processing, or data collection enabled unless they explicitly choose them. LibreOffice has long positioned itself as a free and open alternative to commercial productivity suites. Its latest stance sharpens that identity. While Microsoft, Google, and others are embedding generative AI into writing, spreadsheets, presentations, and email, LibreOffice is choosing a slower and more cautious path. For some users, that will be appealing. Many people worry about private documents being sent to external servers, used for training, or exposed through new integrations. Others dislike subscription pressure, feature bloat, or AI suggestions that interrupt their workflow. By keeping AI optional or absent, LibreOffice can argue that it respects user control and keeps the core editor lightweight. The decision could also help the project in schools, governments, and organizations with strict data protection rules. However, the no-AI approach carries risks. Productivity software is increasingly judged by its smart features, and some users may see LibreOffice as less innovative. The project will need to show that it can still improve usability, collaboration, and compatibility without relying on generative AI. Its stance also raises a broader question for the software industry: should AI be the default, or should it be an opt-in tool? LibreOffice's answer is clear. It wants no AI to be a deliberate choice, not an afterthought, and it is betting that a meaningful audience values privacy and simplicity over automatic intelligence. Whether that bet pays off will depend on how the productivity market evolves and how much users really want AI in every document.