AI Will Not Be Added to LibreOffice Anytime Soon

The Document Foundation, the nonprofit organization that develops LibreOffice, will not add artificial intelligence features to the office suite anytime soon. It was also emphasized that the latest version, released in late August, did not include generative AI features that create text and other content. The organization considers this a deliberate choice to protect user data rather than a shortcoming.

The main purpose of this decision is to prevent documents from being sent to remote servers for processing. By default, LibreOffice works without an internet connection and does not transfer documents outside the device. Many AI services process data on servers beyond the user’s control. The organization is unwilling to accept the risk associated with where and for how long that data is stored.

The Document Foundation says that tens of millions of people and organizations use LibreOffice. Organizations that work with confidential, legally privileged, or personal data need to know exactly where documents are being sent. According to the developer, the most reliable guarantee is that the data never leaves the user’s computer.

Nevertheless, the option remains open for those who want to use artificial intelligence. Users can install LibreOffice extensions and connect the document editor to local AI models running directly on the device. This means that the feature is not included in the standard package, and the choice remains with the user. The main version of the software is also kept separate from artificial intelligence services.

According to the organization, there is currently no suitable integration that keeps data on the device, is not dependent on only 1 AI service, and meets the other requirements. Therefore, this decision does not mean abandoning the technology once and for all. Until the conditions change, the default installation will not include any AI features. The Document Foundation will continue to monitor the technology’s development.