In a move that I honestly wasn’t expecting (although I probably should have), Microsoft has unveiled a new =COPILOT() function that embeds generative AI directly in to Microsoft Excel. Rolling out now in its Beta Channel, this AI-powered formula enables natural language prompts within spreadsheet cells—supercharging how users analyze, summarize, and classify data. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how the feature works, what makes it useful, and how to gain access.
What Is Copilot — And How Did It Find Its Way into Excel?
On the off-chance that you haven’t heard of Copilot, the term Copilot serves as Microsoft’s branding for its AI assistant across Microsoft 365 apps, launched in March 2023. The overarching goal: to assist with tasks ranging from drafting prompts in Word to summarizing insight in Excel, ultimately boosting productivity across familiar tools like Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
Early implementations within Excel focused on peripheral capabilities like explaining formulas or suggesting visualizations. But now, with =COPILOT(), Microsoft brings AI directly into the grid, functioning like any other native Excel formula.
How =COPILOT() Works in Excel
Natural Language Prompts in Formulas
You write your prompt in plain English, optionally referencing cells or ranges. For example:
=COPILOT("Classify this feedback", D4:D18)
This instructs Copilot to analyze the text in D4:D18 and output classification results directly into your sheet.
Dynamic & Spillable by Design
Because it’s a formula, results update automatically when the input data changes—no add-ins or refresh needed. And if the AI returns multiple values, Excel will handle them as spilled Dynamic Arrays across rows or columns.
Compatible with Other Functions
You can nest =COPILOT() inside Excel formulas like IF, SWITCH, LAMBDA, or WRAPROWS, blending AI output with traditional logic for custom workflows.
How the Syntax Looks
=COPILOT(prompt1, [context1], [prompt2], [context2], …)
- prompt_part: your natural-language instruction (e.g. “Summarize this feedback”)
- context (optional): cell or range references giving the AI data to act on (TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM, Microsoft Support).
Examples include summarizing feedback:
=COPILOT("Summarize this feedback", A2:A20)
Or generating sample content:
=COPILOT("Five ice cream flavors")
Or sentiment tagging:
=COPILOT("Classify sentiment", B2:B100)
You can read more about the syntax of the function, usage cases and errors in this Microsoft Support article.
Why =COPILOT() Is Useful (and What to Watch Out For)
Streamlined, Text-Based Tasks
As Microsoft puts it:
“The new COPILOT function in Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac is here to save time and supercharge your workflows! Just enter a natural language prompt in your spreadsheet… and watch Copilot instantly generate AI-powered results.”
(Windows Central)
Use cases include summarizing long feedback, categorizing textual data like support tickets, generating placeholder lists, and brainstorming—all done directly in Excel cells. It should be noted, however, that the COPILOT function should not be used when existing Excel functions already exist to do a job, such as summarizing (=SUM), averages and other computational functions.
Privacy and Auto-Update Are Built-In
Concerns about privacy obviously comes to mind with a function like this. What happens to the data? Based on what Microsoft is saying, your prompts and data remain private and is used only for the session you’re using it for, not for AI model training.
Limitations — Use With Caution
While powerful, =COPILOT() comes with important caveats:
- Accuracy Not Guaranteed
Microsoft explicitly warns: “Not for tasks requiring accuracy or reproducibility,” such as financial reports or legal documents, due to AI’s unpredictable behavior. - Resource Limits
The function is capped at 100 calls per 10 minutes and 300 per hour to manage usage load. - No External Data Access
=COPILOT()can’t pull info from the web or internal corporate data—only what’s in your sheet. To incorporate such data, you must first import it into Excel. It should be noted that it appears this type of functionality may be added at a later date. - Non-deterministic Output
AI might return different results for identical prompts and contexts; results aren’t consistent as typical spreadsheet formulas. And currently, outputs like dates return as text, not native date formats .
Who Can Use It—and How to Get Started
Access Requirements
To use =COPILOT():
- You need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
- You must be on the Beta Channel Insider program.
- You must be running either:
- Windows: Version 2509 (Build 19212.20000) or later.
- Mac: Version 16.101 (Build 25081334) or later (TECHCOMMUNITY.MICROSOFT.COM).
Web Version Launching Soon
Support for Excel for the web is in the works via Microsoft’s Frontier program—so expect broader availability in time.
Summary Table
| Feature / Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | An AI-powered Excel formula that accepts natural language prompts and optional cell context |
| Use cases | Summarizing, classifying, brainstorming directly in-cell |
| Compatibility | Works alongside formulas like IF, SWITCH, LAMBDA, WRAPROWS |
| Privacy | Data is not used to train models; contained within workbook |
| Dynamic behavior | Auto-updates when underlying data changes; supports spilling arrays |
| Limitations | Limited accuracy, usage caps, no external data access, non-deterministic outputs |
| Access requirements | Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Beta Channel, Windows/Mac latest builds |
| Future rollout | Coming soon to Excel for the web |
Final Thoughts
The =COPILOT() function represents a leap forward in making AI a native part of Excel. By blending natural language prompts with traditional formulas, it empowers users to perform tasks—like summarizing feedback or generating content—that previously required more manual effort or external tools. Its dynamic nature and privacy safeguards make it practical for modern workflows.
But it’s not a replacement for accuracy-critical formulas or robust data systems. Microsoft’s own advisory is clear: don’t trust Copilot for financial statements or legal documents. Instead, think of it as an intelligent assistant—great at exploratory, text-led tasks, while Excel’s classic formulas remain the authority in precision.
If you’re an Insider and have a Copilot license, give it a spin but remember to keep an eye on the output. As is often said when using AI for anything, the data produced can contain inaccuracies so proceed with caution. If you do end up trying it out, I’d love to hear what you think.