Copilot in Excel: 3 Time-Saving Tricks

Key insights

• Copilot in Excel: an AI-driven assistant built into Microsoft 365 that lets you use natural language to enter and edit data, build formulas, create charts, and get summaries.
  It helps users work faster without deep formula knowledge.
• =COPILOT function: enter natural language directly in a cell, for example =COPILOT("Summarize this feedback", B12:D20), to get immediate analysis in the worksheet.
  This keeps AI results inside the formula bar instead of a separate pane and is rolling out to Beta/Insider users now.
• Chat and App Skills modes: use Chat mode for conversational questions about your data and App Skills to generate concrete Excel actions like formulas or formatting.
  Toggle between modes to get explanations and ready-made spreadsheet tasks with simple prompts.
• PivotTables and conditional formatting by text or voice: ask Copilot to build PivotTables, apply highlights, or create charts with prompts like "Show sales by region" or "Highlight sales greater than $10,000."
  This automates complex spreadsheet work and speeds insight generation.
• Microsoft 365 license and availability: Copilot requires an enabled paid Microsoft 365 work account and is being rolled out gradually from Beta to wider releases.
  Future updates plan better natural-language handling and support for datasets outside traditional Excel tables.
• Verify outputs: Copilot speeds tasks but can misinterpret data or make errors, so always check AI-generated formulas and summaries.
  When used carefully, Copilot helps democratize Excel by empowering non-experts to perform advanced analyses.

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