How to Use AI for Microsoft Excel

Copilot in Excel

Built into Microsoft 365. Agent Mode can build and edit entire workbooks from one request

Claude for Excel

An add-in for paid Claude plans, generally available since May 2026

ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude chat

Upload a spreadsheet or paste in data to analyze it and get formulas

Agent Mode in Excel lets you pick between Anthropic and OpenAI models. Availability depends on your Microsoft 365 plan and your admin settings.

AI writes the formulas. You confirm they answer the right question.

Write an Excel formula that returns total sales for each region in column B where the date in column A falls within the last 30 days. Explain how it works.

• Describe your columns and the result you want
• Request modern functions like XLOOKUP, FILTER, and LET
• Ask for an explanation of each part

• Paste in a confusing formula and ask what it does
• Paste in an error and ask what causes it
• Request a simpler version

• Split or merge names and addresses
• Standardize dates and text
• Find duplicates and blank cells
• Sort messy entries into categories

• Ask Copilot to surface trends, outliers, and summaries
• Build PivotTables from a plain-language request
• Ask which chart best answers your question
• Use the Analyst agent for deeper data work, where available

Build a 12-month cash flow model with inputs for monthly revenue growth, costs, and hiring. Put the assumptions on their own sheet and label every input.

Put inputs, calculations, and outputs on separate sheets.

• Have AI write VBA macros or Office Scripts
• Describe the steps you repeat
• Test on a copy of the file
• Read the code before you run it

• Spot-check the totals by hand
• Use Show Changes to see Copilot’s edits
• Trace formula precedents
• Test against a small example you already know
• Never trust a model you have not checked yourself

• Follow your company’s AI policy
• Use work accounts and approved add-ins for any company file
• Strip out personal data before using consumer AI tools

• “Summarize the main trends in this table in five bullet points.”
• “Highlight every row where sales fell more than 20% month over month.”
• “Build a PivotTable of revenue by region and product.”
• “Turn this data into a dashboard sheet with three charts on it.”
• “Check this workbook for errors or inconsistencies.”