AI in Excel: natural language formulas with =COPILOT()

Microsoft is bringing AI into Excel with a powerful new feature: the =COPILOT() formula. Instead of manually writing complex functions, you can now use natural language to tell Excel what you want to achieve – and Copilot will build the formula for you.

For example, if you have a list of customer reviews in column D, you can simply type:

=COPILOT("Classify this feedback", D2)

Excel will then generate the right formula or logic to categorise the text automatically, saving time and reducing errors.

This AI-powered feature is particularly useful for professionals who are not advanced Excel users but need to work with data in their daily roles. Whether you’re in finance, marketing, HR, or operations, =COPILOT() lowers the barrier to advanced data analysis by allowing you to describe your task in plain English rather than wrestling with nested formulas.

By blending AI-driven natural language understanding with the familiarity of Excel, Microsoft is making powerful data insights more democratic – helping everyone from analysts to business leaders turn raw information into meaningful results faster than ever.

👉 Explore the feature on Microsoft’s official Youtube announcement: Learn more here