Catalog

Excel AI Comprehensive Guide for Beginners[Pros & Cons, Tutorials and Tips]

March 12, 2024 4.6K views

In a world driven by data, Excel has become an indispensable tool for professionals. Yet, grappling with complex formulas can be daunting, leaving us yearning for a simpler solution. What if there was a way to harness Excel's power effortlessly? Enter Excel AI, the game-changer that frees us from formula overload. Say goodbye to hours spent memorizing functions and welcome a world where comprehensive analyses are just a few clicks away. Join us on this transformative journey as we unlock the true potential of Excel AI.

Part 1: What is Excel AI

Excel AI, or Excel Artificial Intelligence, combines the power of Microsoft Excel with AI capabilities. It revolutionizes data analysis by leveraging AI algorithms to extract insights.Automate data processing, perform advanced calculations, and visualize complex data with Excel AI. It provides a user-friendly interface for efficient decision-making.

With Excel AI, individuals and organizations can make data-driven decisions effortlessly. Gain deeper understanding and enhance productivity by harnessing the power of AI in Excel. Unlock the potential of AI for Excel and elevate your analytical prowess. Experience the seamless integration of AI algorithms within Microsoft Excel for enhanced data analysis.

Part 2: Benefits of Excel AI

Excel AI brings a plethora of benefits to data analysis and decision-making processes. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence within Excel, users can streamline workflows and gain valuable insights for informed decision-making.

Here are some key benefits of Excel AI:

  • Efficient Automation: Excel AI automates repetitive tasks, saving time and effort. Users can rely on AI algorithms for data cleaning, transformation, and analysis, allowing them to focus on interpreting results and making strategic decisions.

  • Insightful Data Analysis: With Excel AI, users can uncover hidden patterns and trends within their data. AI algorithms enable them to extract meaningful insights, enhancing their understanding and enabling data-driven decision-making.

  • Dynamic Visualizations: Excel AI empowers users to create dynamic and interactive visualizations that effectively communicate complex data. Visual representations aid in identifying patterns, outliers, and presenting information to stakeholders with clarity.

  • Predictive Analytics: Leveraging AI models, Excel AI enables predictive analytics for forecasting future trends and outcomes. Users can make informed predictions, enabling proactive actions and improving decision-making processes.

  • Enhanced Efficiency: Excel AI optimizes data analysis workflows, allowing users to process and analyze data more efficiently. By leveraging AI capabilities, users can handle larger datasets and complex calculations with ease.

  • Improved Decision-Making: With Excel AI, users can make data-driven decisions with confidence. The AI-powered insights and analysis empower them to consider multiple variables, assess risks, and choose the best course of action.

By embracing the benefits of Excel AI, users can unlock new levels of productivity, gain deeper insights from their data, and make informed decisions that drive success. Excel AI revolutionizes data analysis, enabling users to harness the power of artificial intelligence within the familiar Excel interface.

Part 3: Best Excel AI Tools

Excel AI offers a range of powerful tools that enhance data analysis and decision-making capabilities. These tools leverage artificial intelligence to automate tasks, extract insights, and streamline workflows within the Excel environment.

Here are some of the best Excel AI tools:

1. Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot landing page screenshot

Basic Information

Microsoft Copilot is an Excel AI tool that enhances productivity and efficiency by providing intelligent suggestions and autocomplete capabilities. It leverages machine learning algorithms to assist users in writing formulas, functions, and complex calculations within Excel.

Pros

  • Time-saving: Microsoft Copilot accelerates the formula creation process by offering intelligent suggestions and autocomplete functionality. Users can write formulas faster and more accurately, saving valuable time.

  • Improved Accuracy: With the help of Copilot's intelligent suggestions, users can avoid formula errors and inconsistencies. The tool reduces the risk of syntax mistakes and enhances the accuracy of calculations.

  • Enhanced Productivity: Copilot streamlines the formula creation workflow, enabling users to focus on data analysis and decision-making. It helps users overcome formula-related challenges and boosts overall productivity.

  • Learn as You Go: As users interact with Copilot, the tool learns their preferences and adapts to their working style. Over time, Copilot becomes more personalized, providing tailored suggestions that align with the user's needs.

Cons

  • Dependency on Internet Connection: Microsoft Copilot requires an internet connection to function effectively. Users may experience limitations or disruptions if they encounter network issues or have restricted internet access.

  • Limited Customization: While Copilot offers intelligent suggestions, it may not cater to highly specific or specialized scenarios. Advanced users who require intricate formula creation or customization may find the tool's suggestions limited.

  • Learning Curve: Although Copilot aims to streamline the formula creation process, users may still need time to familiarize themselves with the tool's functionality and adapt to its suggestions. The learning curve may vary depending on the user's experience and proficiency with Excel

2. Excel Formula Bot

Excel Formula Bot landing page screenshot

Basic Information

Excel Formula Bot is an AI-powered tool designed to assist users in creating formulas and solving complex calculations within Microsoft Excel. It offers a user-friendly interface and utilizes natural language processing to understand user inputs and generate accurate formulas.

Pros

  • Simplified Formula Creation: Excel Formula Bot simplifies the process of creating formulas by allowing users to input calculations in plain English. The tool translates the user's intent into the corresponding Excel formula, saving time and effort.

  • Error Prevention: By leveraging AI algorithms, Formula Bot helps users avoid common formula errors and inconsistencies. It performs syntax checks and provides real-time suggestions to improve the accuracy of calculations.

  • Accessibility for Non-Experts: The user-friendly interface and natural language processing capabilities of Formula Bot make it accessible for users with limited Excel expertise. It enables individuals to perform complex calculations without needing in-depth knowledge of Excel's formula syntax.

  • Time Efficiency: With Formula Bot, users can generate formulas quickly and efficiently. The tool eliminates the need to search for specific functions or memorize complex formulas, enabling users to focus on data analysis and decision-making.

Cons

  • Limited Customization: While Excel Formula Bot offers convenience and simplicity, it may not support highly customized or intricate formulas required for advanced data analysis scenarios. Users with specific and complex requirements may find the tool's capabilities limited.

  • Dependency on Internet Connection: Formula Bot operates as a cloud-based service, requiring a stable internet connection for optimal functionality. Users should consider potential limitations or disruptions if they have restricted internet access or encounter network issues.

  • Contextual Limitations: Although Formula Bot aims to understand user inputs through natural language processing, it may face challenges in comprehending ambiguous or context-specific calculations. Users should ensure clarity in their instructions to receive accurate formula suggestions.

3. WPS AI

截图〉〇〉》〇《〈〈〈〇「《「〇.png

Basic Information

WPS Excel AI (WPS AI) is an AI-powered assistant integrated into the WPS Office suite. It offers a wide range of intelligent features and functionalities for office scenarios, leveraging artificial intelligence technology to enhance productivity and user experience.

Pros

  • Conversational Interaction: WPSAI utilizes natural language processing to enable conversational interaction. Users can communicate with the assistant in natural language, making office tasks more intuitive and efficient.

  • Multiple Office Applications: WPSAI supports various office applications, including document editing, form processing, and presentation creation. Users can leverage its capabilities across different tasks and workflows within the WPS Office suite.

  • Text Generation and Translation: With powerful text generation capabilities, WPSAI assists users in creating content, summarizing information, and performing translations. It offers multi-language support, facilitating communication for global users.

  • Improved Office Efficiency: By leveraging AI technology, WPSAI helps improve office efficiency and reduce costs. Its intelligent features streamline tasks, automate processes, and optimize office workflows, enhancing overall productivity.

Cons

  • Learning and Optimization: Although WPS AI has self-learning capabilities, it currently does not provide users with the option to customize AI.

  • Specific Industry Relevance: While WPSAI caters to a wide range of scenarios, its functionalities may be more tailored to certain industries or specific office requirements. Users should assess its suitability for their particular business needs

WPS Office: Use Word, Excel, PPT and WPS AI for FREE, No Ads.

Part 4: How to Use Excel AI

Excel AI brings powerful features and functionalities to enhance your data analysis and decision-making capabilities. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Excel AI:

1. Open your Excel spreadsheet and select the data you want to clean. Data should have header for each column.

Excel Data input screenshot

2. Navigate to the "Home" tab in the Excel ribbon. Click on the "Analyze Data" option.

Excel Data analyze data screenshot

3. Excel AI will analyze your data and identify potential issues such as missing values, duplicates, and inconsistencies. You can also ask question about your data, Excel AI will provide related response.

Excel Data AI asking question screenshot

4. Click on “Insert PivotChart”, this option will automatically insert chart based on your data in new sheet.

Excel Data pivotchart screenshot

5. Review will generated insights, predictions, or clusters of Excel AI based on your data

Part 5: How to use ChatGPT or plugins in Excel

If you want to know how to use Chat GPT4 and WPS AI to create tables in Excel, click on the hyperlink to learn the detailed steps for enabling AI.

Method 1: Excel Labs Add-in

Brief Intro

Excel Labs is a new add-in for Microsoft Excel that allows users to access experimental features and provide feedback. One of the standout features of Excel Labs is the LABS.GENERATIVEAI function, which enables users to send prompts to a generative AI model and receive the results directly in their worksheets. In this guide, we will walk you through the installation process, explore the features, and demonstrate how to use the LABS.GENERATIVEAI function.

Features

  • LABS.GENERATIVEAI Function: This function allows you to send prompts to a generative AI model for data analysis, content generation, and formatting instructions.

  • Analyze Public Information: Prompt the model to summarize complex topics or explain concepts in a sentence.

  • Generate Creative Content: Ask the model to create content such as poems or stories based on specific subjects.

  • Process Data and Format it: Instruct the model to return publicly available data and define how it should be formatted.

  • Reference Workbook Cells: The function can reference cells in your workbook and be called from any Excel cell or named formula.

Pros

  • Immediate Access: Excel Labs allows you to experiment with generative AI without the need for an enterprise-level deployment.

  • Advanced and Convenient Features: The LABS.GENERATIVEAI function provides a wide range of possibilities for data analysis, content generation, and formatting.

  • Seamless Integration: The function can be called from any Excel cell or named formula, making it easy to incorporate into your existing workflow.

Cons

  • Experimental Nature: Excel Labs is an experimental add-in, so some features may still be in development and may not be as stable as fully supported features.

  • Limited Availability: Excel Labs may not be available for all versions of Excel, depending on system requirements.

How to Install

1. Open Excel and click on the "Insert" tab in the menu.

Excel Data Excel Labs

2. Select "Get Add-ins" from the options available. Search for "Excel Labs" and click on the add-in to view details. 

Excel Data Excel add-ins

3. Click the "Add" button to install the Excel Labs add-in

How to Use

1. In the "Excel Labs" configuration screen, then locate, select  and paste your API key to the "Configure API key" option. Based on instruction to get your key

Excel Data Excel API key

2. Close the plug-in configuration window and return to the worksheet. In any cell, you can now enter the LABS.GENERATIVEAI formula in the specified format.

Excel Data Excel Labs functions

For example, if you type the following formula, the cell will initially display "BUSY" and the mouse cursor will move to the yellow exclamation point, indicating that the formula is being calculated.

Wait for a few moments, and the cell will then display the returned results generated by the model.

Please note that you should replace "Text_Prompt" with your desired prompt. You can also adjust the parameters (Temperature, Max_Tokens, Model) as necessary for your specific use case.

Take your time to explore the generated responses and analyze the outcomes in your Excel worksheet.

That's it! You are now ready to explore the capabilities of Excel Labs and leverage the power of generative AI within your Excel worksheets.

Method 2: Excel Add-in

1. Open Excel and go to the "Insert" tab in the Excel ribbon.

Excel Data insert tab screenshot

2. Click on "Get Add-ins" to open the Microsoft AppSource store.

Excel Data My add-ins screenshot

3. Search for "GPT" in the search bar. Find add-in based on your demand. You can Install Ghostwriter - a writing assistant add-in and complete the installation process.

Excel Data GPT apps screenshot

4. Once installed, find the Excel AI ChatGPT interface in the "Add-ins" tab.

Method 3: Excel Macro

1. Open Excel and press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor.

VBA homepage screenshot

2. Insert a new module by clicking on "Insert" and selecting "Module."

VBA Module tab screenshot

3. Write Excel AI ChatGPT macro code you want into the new module.

VBA code insert screenshot

4. Use the assigned macro button or Alt+F8  to activate the Excel AI ChatGPT feature.

VBA activate code screenshot

FAQs

Q1: Is there machine learning in Excel?

Yes, Excel provides some machine learning capabilities through various features and add-ins. With tools like Power Query and Power Pivot, you can perform data analysis, data modeling, and create machine learning models using Excel. These features allow you to apply algorithms, perform predictive analysis, and make data-driven decisions within the Excel environment.

Q2: Does Excel have artificial intelligence?

Excel itself does not have built-in artificial intelligence capabilities. However, with the integration of AI tools and add-ins, such as Excel AI ChatGPT, you can leverage artificial intelligence within Excel. These tools enable natural language processing, conversational interactions, and advanced analytics, enhancing the functionality of Excel by incorporating AI capabilities.

Q3: What are the different types of AI?

There are various types of artificial intelligence, each serving different purposes. Some common types of AI include:

Narrow AI: This type of AI is designed to perform specific tasks and is focused on a narrow domain. Examples include virtual assistants, chatbots, and recommendation systems.

General AI: General AI aims to mimic human intelligence and possesses the ability to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across various domains. However, achieving true general AI remains a significant challenge.

Machine Learning: Machine learning is a subset of AI that focuses on training algorithms to learn from data and make predictions or decisions. It enables systems to improve performance over time without being explicitly programmed.

Final Thought on Potential of Excel AI

In this comprehensive guide, we explored the benefits of Excel AI and how to integrate it into Microsoft Excel. We discussed the advantages of using AI in Excel, including enhanced data analysis and time-saving capabilities. Among the many options, ChatGPT is undoubtedly one of the most powerful AI features. However, for those who frequently use office software for work, seamless integration of AI within the office software ecosystem is the best choice. If I were to choose between WPS AI and Copilot, I would probably opt for WPS AI due to its high cost-effectiveness and the fact that it comes with a free office suite. No matter which industry you are in, the AI features embedded in WPS Office can provide you with excellent suggestions and assistance for your work. Download now and experience a seamless journey of artificial intelligence at work. Don't miss out on this opportunity!


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.