How to Use AI for Microsoft Excel

Copilot in Excel

Built into Microsoft 365. Agent Mode can build and edit whole workbooks from a request

Claude for Excel

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

ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude chat

Upload a spreadsheet or paste data to analyse and get formulas

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

AI writes the formulas. You check that they answer the right question.

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

• Describe your columns and what you want
• Ask for modern functions such as XLOOKUP, FILTER, and LET
• Ask it to explain each part

• Paste a confusing formula and ask what it does
• Paste an error and ask why it happens
• Ask for a simpler version

• Split or combine names and addresses
• Standardize dates and text
• Find duplicates and blanks
• Categorize messy entries

• Ask Copilot for trends, outliers, and summaries
• Create PivotTables from a plain request
• Ask for the best chart for 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 assumptions on a separate sheet and label every input.

Keep inputs, calculations, and outputs on separate sheets.

• Ask AI to write VBA macros or Office Scripts
• Explain the steps you repeat
• Test on a copy of your file
• Read the code before running it

• Spot-check totals by hand
• Use Show Changes to see what Copilot edited
• Trace formula precedents
• Test with a small, known example
• Never trust a model you have not checked

• Follow your company’s AI rules
• Use work accounts and approved add-ins for company files
• Remove personal data before using consumer AI tools

• “Summarize the key trends in this table in five bullet points.”
• “Highlight rows where sales dropped more than 20% month over month.”
• “Create a PivotTable of revenue by region and product.”
• “Turn this data into a dashboard sheet with three charts.”
• “Find any errors or inconsistencies in this workbook.”