Microsoft is adding a new function called Copilot to Excel, to serve as a smart tool capable of automatically filling cells based on direct commands. The move comes as part of a clear race between Microsoft and Google to integrate AI into office productivity tools, as Google previously launched a similar feature in Sheets last June.

The Copilot function in Excel is based on the user entering a formula containing the word COPILOT followed by a descriptive command such as summarizing text, creating a table, or categorizing data, with the ability to define a range of cells for AI to process and return appropriate results.

When there is a column with customer feedback about a specific product such as a coffee maker, the user can type a simple formula in the form of =COPILOT(Classify this feedback, D4:D18) and Excel will automatically categorize these comments within the selected cells. This format is a practical example of the tool's ability to convert unstructured text into sortable and parsable data very quickly.

It's not just about categorization, but the function can generate new texts such as describing a product based on its technical data, or summarizing a large set of notes in a few words, reducing the time and effort spent on reporting and summaries.

Integrated with other

Excel formats Microsoft points out that the Copilot function can be integrated with other Excel formats such as IF, SWITCH, LAMBDA, or WRAPROWS, opening the door to creative uses that combine the power of traditional Excel analysis with the flexibility of artificial intelligence.

This feature makes the tool closer to the mindset of an analyst or employee who needs a combination of mathematical formulas and textual abilities at the same time.



The Copilot function is based on the GPT-4.1-mini model developed by OpenAI, to serve as the next generation after a beta function launched by Microsoft in 2023 under the name LABS. GENERATIVEAI.

This development reflects the company's eagerness to move from the limited testing phase to formally integrating AI into its core tools, with the promise of developing functionality later by improving the model and potentially adding web accessibility capabilities.