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LibreOffice breaks download records
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
LibreOffice 26.8 hit 1,031,162 first-week downloads after touting no AI.
The no-AI stance is now a selling point for privacy-focused users.
Background
LibreOffice, a free open-source alternative to Microsoft Office, released version 26.8 on August 26, 2026. The Document Foundation (TDF), which manages the software, highlighted the absence of generative AI features as a key selling point, citing privacy concerns. This stance contrasts with many competitors that have integrated AI into their products. The release set a new first-week download record, suggesting a market demand for AI-free software.
How it unfolded
- Aug 26, 2026LibreOffice 26.8 released, with TDF highlighting 'No artificial intelligence' as a feature in its announcement.
- Sep 2, 2026TDF reports 1,031,162 downloads from the official website in the first week, a record for any LibreOffice release.
- Sep 3, 2026TDF publishes a post titled 'Yes, no AI is now a feature' explaining its AI principles, including no telemetry and no content leaving the computer without authorization.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- TDF says it does not reject AI outright but requires it to meet principles like user control and no telemetry before inclusion by default.
- Public
- Commenters on Hacker News note that open-source software can be integrated with AI by others, but the record downloads show appreciation for the no-AI stance.