Easy Tech TutsHow to Use Microsoft Excel With AI Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Writing complex nested formulas by hand or manually cleaning messy data rows eats up hours you don't have to spare. This guide covers activating Excel's Copilot panel to generate formulas from plain language prompts, using smart fill to parse text patterns, and pulling automated chart insights from the Analyze Data tool.
01Open Copilot
Click the Copilot icon in the top right of the Home ribbon to open your AI assistant panel.
02Prompt a formula
Type what math or filtering task you want to accomplish in plain language and press enter.
03Review and insert the formula
Look over the AI's suggested logic, then click to insert the new formula column into your sheet.
04Use smart fill for text parsing
Type an example of the extracted text in an adjacent cell, press Ctrl + E, and let Excel map the pattern automatically.
05Try the Analyze Data tool
Open Analyze Data from the Home tab to review automated visual summary cards and insert an AI-generated chart.
06Explore AI add-ins
Check the Insert tab's Get Add-ins option for verified third-party AI tools that unlock custom cell prompt functions.
Frequently asked questions
How does Excel generate a formula from a text prompt?
Copilot processes your natural language description of the task and translates it into the correct formula syntax automatically.
What is smart fill and how is it different from a formula?
Smart fill, triggered with Ctrl + E, detects a pattern from an example you type and applies it to the rest of the column without writing a formula.
Do I need a specific Excel version to access Copilot?
AI features like Copilot are tied to your Microsoft 365 subscription and version, so availability can vary by plan.
Can AI-generated formulas update automatically as my data changes?
Yes, once inserted, an AI-generated formula behaves like any standard formula and recalculates as your source data updates.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
