Microsoft’s latest innovation, the COPILOT function, brings the sophistication of advanced AI models directly into Excel, making data analysis, idea generation, and content creation faster and more intuitive than ever before.
Introducing the COPILOT Function
COPILOT is a powerful new Excel formula designed to streamline tasks ranging from data wrangling to brainstorming. By entering a natural language prompt into a cell and optionally referencing other data ranges, you can generate AI-powered results tailored to your needs. This integration means your results are always up to date as your data changes, there’s no need to rerun scripts or refresh add-ins. Your privacy is protected, as COPILOT does not use your data to train its models.
How COPILOT Works
The formula is simple: =COPILOT(prompt_part1, [context1], [prompt_part2], [context2], ...) . Prompts are your instructions or questions, while context references your worksheet data.
For example, use =COPILOT("Classify this feedback", D4:D18) to organize customer responses by sentiment. This approach keeps the process inside Excel, simplifying your workflow and eliminating the need for external tools.
Key Ways to Use COPILOT
- Idea Generation: Instantly brainstorm marketing strategies, rewrite pitches, or generate keyword lists within your spreadsheet.
- Summarizing Data: Turn long passages or large datasets into concise reports and trend summaries, making information easier to digest and present.
- Data Classification: Automatically categorize feedback, support tickets, or survey responses, saving time on repetitive sorting tasks.
- Creating Lists and Tables: Generate new datasets, from project outlines to industry samples, all driven by a single formula.
What’s Next for COPILOT?
Microsoft is actively collecting feedback to improve COPILOT. The roadmap includes support for larger arrays, enhanced AI models, better guidance for tasks outside language models, expanded data access, and improved handling of dates. Future updates will bring even more robust features, including better web and enterprise integrations.
How to Access COPILOT
COPILOT is currently available to Beta Channel users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license on the latest Excel versions for Windows and Mac. Web access is coming soon via the Frontier program. Microsoft encourages users to provide feedback directly within Excel, shaping the evolution of this groundbreaking tool.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
- Craft clear, specific prompts precision leads to accuracy.
- Use action words such as “summarize,” “categorize,” or “rank,” and specify the format you want.
- COPILOT can only use data present in your workbook; import any additional information you need.
- Always review the AI's output for mission-critical tasks to ensure reliability.
- The function is limited to 100 calls per 10 minutes and 300 calls per hour. Batch your data in arrays to optimize usage.
- COPILOT is an opt-in feature for you to integrate it into your workflow as needed.
Takeaway
The COPILOT function represents a major leap forward for Excel users, making sophisticated AI capabilities available right within familiar spreadsheets. Whether you’re summarizing, analyzing, or generating new ideas, COPILOT accelerates your workflow and unlocks creative possibilities. Watch as Microsoft continues to refine and expand this powerful feature, keeping you at the cutting edge of productivity.
Excel's COPILOT Function Transforms Data Analysis with AI