Excel’s New AI Copilot Function: How =COPILOT Transforms Spreadsheets in 2025

Sep 5, 2025

—

Microsoft Excel has always been the go-to tool for data analysis, reporting, and decision-making. Now, in 2025, Excel has taken a massive leap forward with the brand-new =COPILOT function — a direct way to bring AI-powered insights into your spreadsheets.

Instead of spending hours writing complex formulas, you can now type natural language prompts directly into a cell and let Copilot handle the analysis, classification, or summarization.

This article will guide you through what the =COPILOT function is, how it works, and real-world examples that can save you time and make your reporting smarter.

What is the `=COPILOT` Function in Excel?

The =COPILOT function allows you to type a plain English prompt directly in a formula cell, reference your data, and instantly receive AI-generated insights.

It works like any other Excel function (=SUM, =IF, =VLOOKUP etc.), but instead of rigid formulas, it understands human language instructions.
You can combine it with other Excel functions to make formulas dynamic and flexible.
It automatically updates when your referenced data changes, just like regular formulas.

In short, it brings conversational AI into Excel — making your spreadsheet more powerful and intuitive.

Why `=COPILOT` is a Game-Changer

No More Complicated Formulas: Instead of stacking nested IF statements, just tell Copilot what you need.
Natural Language Queries: Use plain English like “Summarize sales by region” or “Classify customer feedback.”
Dynamic Updates: Results change instantly as your data changes.
Productivity Boost: Great for analysts, business managers, students, and anyone working with data.

Syntax of the Function

=COPILOT("Your Prompt", DataRange)

“Your Prompt” → Natural language instruction (e.g., “Summarize sales” or “Classify reviews”).
DataRange → The cell range you want Copilot to analyze.

Practical Examples of `=COPILOT`

Here are some real-world use cases that show how versatile this feature is:

1. Customer Feedback Classification

Instead of manually categorizing reviews:

=COPILOT("Classify this feedback as Positive, Neutral, or Negative", B2:B20)

✅ Output: A column tagging each review automatically.

2. Summarizing Sales Data

Want a quick regional performance summary?

=COPILOT("Summarize sales by region", C2:F50)

✅ Output: “North Region is leading with $1.2M in sales, followed by West with $950K.”

3. Spotting Anomalies in Data

Identify unusual values in survey results or financial numbers:

=COPILOT("Highlight unusual response rates or outliers", D2:D100)

✅ Output: Flags values that deviate from the average.

4. Creating Marketing Insights

Brainstorm strategies directly inside Excel:

=COPILOT("Suggest 3 marketing ideas based on customer feedback", E2:E40)

✅ Output: “1. Loyalty program, 2. Faster customer support, 3. Personalized discounts.”

5. Writing Product Descriptions

Turn raw product data into professional descriptions:

=COPILOT("Write a short product description using this data", A2:C2)

✅ Output: “The Galaxy X5 offers a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, 128GB storage, and a long-lasting battery.”

6. Creating Conditional AI Responses

Combine with IF for conditional automation:

=IF(A2>1000, COPILOT("Summarize high-value sales", B2:B15), "Not applicable")

✅ Output: Provides summaries only when sales exceed $1000.

When You Should Use Copilot

Business Reporting → Summarize sales, revenue, and KPIs.
Academic Research → Turn survey responses into insights.
Customer Service → Classify tickets and feedback automatically.
Marketing Teams → Generate creative ideas and campaign suggestions.
Project Management → Summarize progress notes into status updates.

Best Practices for `=COPILOT`

Be Specific in Prompts – Instead of “Analyze sales,” use “Summarize top 3 selling products by revenue.”
Work in Batches – Analyze ranges instead of single cells for efficiency.
Use with Caution for Financial Data – Great for trends and summaries, but avoid using AI for compliance-critical calculations.
Combine with Excel Logic – Use with IF, SWITCH, or FILTER for dynamic, rule-based automation.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

Limited to a certain number of calls per hour (so use prompts wisely).
AI may occasionally generate non-reproducible results — double-check before finalizing reports.
Not ideal for regulatory or high-stakes calculations (e.g., tax filings, audited reports).

The Excel =COPILOT function marks the start of a new era — one where spreadsheets aren’t just static grids of formulas but intelligent assistants that analyze, summarize, and generate insights in real time.

For professionals, it saves hours of manual reporting.
For students, it simplifies learning and research.
For businesses, it means faster decision-making with less complexity.

By mastering =COPILOT, you can make Excel not just a calculation tool — but your personal AI-powered analyst.

Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Use `=COPILOT` in Excel (with Examples & Mockups)

Microsoft Excel’s new Copilot function (=COPILOT) brings AI-powered insights directly into your spreadsheets. You can now type natural language prompts right in a formula cell, reference your data, and instantly get summaries, classifications, or creative ideas.

This tutorial walks you through how to use =COPILOT step by step, with mockup screenshots to visualize real use cases.

Step 1: Prepare Your Data

Let’s say you have a list of customer feedback:

Excel Mockup:

A	Customer Feedback
1	The delivery was late but packaging was good.
2	Excellent support team, very helpful.
3	Prices are too high for the quality offered.
4	Fast shipping and great product quality.
5	Customer care was slow to respond.

Step 2: Enter the `=COPILOT` Formula

Click on Cell B2 (next to the first review) and type:

=COPILOT("Classify this feedback as Positive, Neutral, or Negative", A2)

Excel Mockup:

A	Customer Feedback	B (Sentiment)
1	The delivery was late but packaging was good.	Neutral
2	Excellent support team, very helpful.	Positive
3	Prices are too high for the quality offered.	Negative
4	Fast shipping and great product quality.	Positive
5	Customer care was slow to respond.	Negative

✅ Copilot automatically categorizes each review.

Step 3: Summarize Data

Now let’s generate a quick summary of all feedback.
In Cell D2, type:

=COPILOT("Summarize customer feedback in 2 sentences", A2:A6)

Excel Mockup Output in D2:

“Most customers praised fast delivery, good product quality, and supportive staff. Some highlighted issues with pricing and slow customer care responses.”

Step 4: Spotting Anomalies

You can also ask Copilot to flag unusual responses in survey data.

Example formula in Cell C2:

=COPILOT("Highlight unusual feedback compared to others", A2:A6)

Excel Mockup Output:

“Delivery was late but packaging was good” → Marked as unusual (others mostly positive).

Step 5: Generate Creative Ideas

Suppose you want marketing suggestions from customer reviews.
Type in Cell D4:

=COPILOT("Suggest 3 ways to improve customer satisfaction", A2:A6)

Excel Mockup Output:

Introduce faster response times in customer care.
Offer discounts or loyalty rewards to address pricing concerns.
Continue emphasizing fast shipping and quality packaging.

Step 6: Combine with IF for Conditional AI

You can even make Copilot’s output conditional.

For example, in Cell E2:

=IF(COUNT(A2:A6)>3, COPILOT("Summarize top 3 recurring issues", A2:A6), "Not enough data")

✅ If you have more than 3 reviews, Copilot generates a summary. Otherwise, it shows “Not enough data.”

Best Practices for Using `=COPILOT`

Use specific prompts: “Summarize top 3 complaints” works better than “Summarize feedback.”
Apply it to ranges, not single cells, for richer insights.
Combine with classic Excel formulas for automation.
Always review results before using in critical reports.

Final Thoughts

The =COPILOT function transforms Excel into an AI-powered assistant that can analyze, summarize, and even suggest strategies—all without complex formulas.

From sentiment analysis to business reporting and marketing ideas, Copilot makes Excel smarter, faster, and more conversational.

By mastering it now, you’ll be ahead of the curve as AI becomes the new standard in productivity tools.