LibreOffice 26.8 Sets Download Record While Emphasizing No Built-In AI Features

LibreOffice 26.8, released on August 26, has quickly become the most popular update in the software’s nearly 20-year history. Within one week, the installer was downloaded over one million times, excluding updates distributed through Linux repositories. LibreOffice is a free alternative to Microsoft Office widely used by NGOs, government agencies, and various offices. While improvements to writing and typography tools contributed to the update’s appeal, The Document Foundation (TDF), which oversees LibreOffice, attributes much of the attention to the suite’s explicit decision not to include generative AI features. This stance is rooted in concerns over privacy and control. In a post titled "Yes, no AI is now a feature," TDF’s Italo Vignoli clarified the foundation’s position. TDF does not reject artificial intelligence outright but maintains that AI integration must meet strict principles before inclusion. These principles include user-controlled execution, no unauthorized data leaving the device, absence of telemetry, no reliance on a single vendor, no compromises on file formats, and optional use. For now, TDF encourages the use of community-developed plugins for AI functionality rather than embedding AI directly into the core software. The foundation also contrasted its approach with competitors who have integrated AI assistants that often justify subscription fees and encourage data storage within proprietary infrastructures. This approach highlights a market niche for AI-free software alternatives, demonstrating that even as AI becomes widespread in software, there remains demand for privacy-focused, user-controlled solutions like LibreOffice.