Using Microsoft Copilot in Excel

For decades, Excel has been one of the most powerful tools for organizing, analyzing, and presenting business data. But as spreadsheets have grown more complex, so has the challenge of unlocking their full potential. Now, Microsoft is making that easier with a major new update: the COPILOT function in Excel.

What Is the COPILOT Function?

Microsoft Copilot has already been helping Excel users explain formulas and better understand their spreadsheets. But the newest addition takes things a step further. With the =COPILOT(…) function, you can now bring AI directly into your grid.

Instead of memorizing complicated syntax or wrestling with formulas, you can simply type what you want in plain English. Excel does the rest—powered by large language models built right into the app.

As Catherine Pidgeon, Partner Director on the Excel team, explains:

“This is a major step forward in how you work with data that makes it easier than ever to analyze text, generate content, and work faster.”

What Can You Do with It?

The COPILOT function opens up new ways to work with data right in your spreadsheet:

• Spur ideas: Brainstorm marketing campaigns, generate SEO keywords, or even rewrite messaging for tone and clarity—directly in your Excel grid.
  

• Generate summaries: Condense long passages of text, highlight key trends, or produce plain-language explanations for complex calculations. Perfect for reporting.
  

• Classify data: Quickly categorize customer feedback, support tickets, or survey responses without exporting data to another tool.
  

• Create lists or tables: Build datasets for testing, assemble industry examples, or draft project plans. COPILOT can return multi-row, multi-column outputs that spill seamlessly into your sheet.
  

Tips for Getting the Most from COPILOT

As with any AI tool, the quality of your results depends on how you use it. Microsoft offers a few best practices:

• Be clear and specific with your prompts. Mention the exact cells, columns, or rows you want included, and specify the format (e.g., list, table with headers).
  

• Use action words like “summarize,” “categorize,” or “rank” to guide outputs.

• Provide examples when possible to influence the style or structure of results.
  

• Remember, COPILOT works with the data you provide—it doesn’t access live web data or internal company documents. Import what you need into Excel first.
  

• Always review and validate outputs before using them in critical business decisions.
  

What to Keep in Mind

The COPILOT function is optional and only added to a worksheet when you choose to use it. Currently, there are some usage limits:

• Up to 100 calls every 10 minutes
  

• Up to 300 calls per hour
  
  

To maximize usage, you can pass arrays (larger ranges of data) in a single call rather than dragging the function across multiple cells. Microsoft has stated that these limits will expand over time.

Why It Matters for Your Business

For businesses Imagineering supports, this is a game-changer. The COPILOT function in Excel:

• Makes advanced data analysis accessible to non-technical users.
  

• Saves time by automating tedious tasks.
  

• Helps teams brainstorm and problem-solve without leaving their spreadsheets.
  

• Creates a bridge between raw data and meaningful insights.

This is just the beginning. Microsoft has shared that future updates will add support for live web data and internal business documents, making the COPILOT function even more powerful.

Curious to see COPILOT in action? Microsoft has posted a helpful demo video on YouTube showcasing how it works.

At Imagineering, we help businesses in the Chippewa Valley take advantage of tools like Microsoft Copilot to work smarter, not harder. Want to learn how? Contact our team today.