LibreOffice 26.8, released on August 26th, became the most popular update in the software’s nearly two-decade history. According to the source, the installer was downloaded more than 1 million times in one week, not counting updates distributed through Linux repositories.
The Document Foundation (TDF), which maintains the free Microsoft Office alternative, attributes the surge partly to improvements in the writing system and typography that appeal to NGOs, government agencies, and offices already using the software. However, a distinguishing factor appears to be LibreOffice’s explicit decision to exclude generative AI features.
A day after the download milestone, TDF published a post titled “Yes, no AI is now a feature,” signed by Italo Vignoli. The foundation outlined specific principles that AI technology must meet before inclusion: user-controlled execution, preventing content from leaving the computer without authorization, no telemetry of any kind, no dependency on a single vendor, no compromises on file format, and optional implementation.
TDF emphasized it does “not reject artificial intelligence out of hand,” but stated that current AI technology does not satisfy these requirements. Instead, the foundation recommends community plugins for users who want to integrate AI capabilities.
Vignoli’s article suggests the foundation’s position addresses broader concerns about how rival companies deploy AI. TDF argues that “an AI assistant justifies a price increase and strengthens the case for keeping all documents within its own infrastructure,” a reference to subscription-based models that require vendor lock-in.
The LibreOffice case appears to test a market question that has persisted since 2023: whether there is demand for AI-free software alternatives in an industry where most products now include generative AI features by default. The download record suggests at least some users prefer an option without built-in AI tied to privacy trade-offs or vendor dependencies.
Key facts
- LibreOffice 26.8 was downloaded over 1 million times in its first week (not counting Linux repository updates)
- The Document Foundation cites privacy concerns as the primary reason for excluding AI features
- TDF requires AI to meet six specific principles before inclusion: user control, no unauthorized data transfer, no telemetry, no single-vendor dependency, no format compromises, and optional implementation
- The foundation recommends community plugins as an alternative for users wanting AI functionality