Explicit markers of LLM use found in LibreOffice project code
An analysis of code submitted to LibreOffice this year shows at least three explicit mentions of LLM use, with community developers saying they used tools such as Claude or GitHub Copilot. The Document Foundation previously stated that LibreOffice would not build in AI features and that core developers do not use LLMs to assist with programming, but in response it said it does require contributors to disclose when they use LLMs, and that overall it does not encourage LLM use.
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The Document Foundation (TDF), which develops LibreOffice, previously stated that this office software would not have built-in AI features, and that its core developers do not use AI-assisted programming tools such as LLMs. However, community developers who contribute code to the project do not necessarily follow this rule. An analysis of code submitted to LibreOffice this year shows that at least three places explicitly mention the use of LLMs. Community developers mentioned in the code that they used tools such as Claude or GitHub Copilot. This result is not surprising; large open-source projects are basically unlikely to completely avoid LLMs. In response to this finding, TDF stated that they do indeed require contributors to disclose when using LLMs, and generally do not encourage the use of LLMs. Similar to Debian, LibreOffice requires developers to understand their own code and ensure code quality.