Microsoft Integrates AI Assistant into Excel

Microsoft Excel is testing a new AI tool for automatic cell population.

Microsoft Excel is testing a new artificial intelligence tool capable of automatically populating cells in spreadsheets.

Time to meet a new function. Type =COPILOT() to experience AI-powered analysis, summaries, data classifications, & more: Try it now: https://t.co/Q6N3t4dYHP pic.twitter.com/C8oQepB99y

— Microsoft Excel (@msexcel) August 18, 2025

This is achieved using the COPILOT function with natural language prompts and specifying the required cells. The AI can classify information, create summaries, generate tables, and perform other tasks.

For instance, if there is a column in Excel with reviews of a coffee machine, they can be quickly classified using the neural network. The formula =COPILOT(“Classify this feedback”, D4:D18) is applied for this purpose.

Copilot in Excel!

Microsoft just announced Copilot function in Excel, which lets you analyze, generate content, and brainstorm directly in excel.

How it works 🧵 https://t.co/5fsuXtMNWa pic.twitter.com/OPm2fLq7K2

— Python Space (@python_spaces) August 19, 2025

Other command examples include:

• text generation: =COPILOT(“Create a description for this product based on its specs”, B2:B8);
• text summarization: =COPILOT(“Summarize this feedback”, A2:A20).

The new tool is based on OpenAI’s gpt-4.1-mini. It can be combined with other Excel functions like IF, SWITCH, LAMBDA, or WRAPROWS.

The company emphasized that data transmitted through COPILOT is not used for training the AI. The interaction remains confidential.

Among COPILOT’s limitations: it cannot access information outside the spreadsheet and is limited to 100 function calculations every 10 minutes.

The tool is available to Windows and Mac users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

In June, a similar service was introduced in Google Sheets, and on August 18, the corporation added the ability to create audio versions of documents in Docs using artificial intelligence.

Users can choose different voices and playback speeds. The feature is available to both authors and readers of the file. To activate it, go to “Tools,” select “Audio,” and then “Listen to this tab.”

Currently, audio versions can only be created in English on desktop devices. The feature is being rolled out to Workspace users with business plans, corporate clients, educational institutions, and AI Pro and Ultra subscribers.

Back in July, Microsoft introduced a new Copilot Mode feature in the Edge browser, allowing web pages to be viewed with the help of artificial intelligence.