Unlock Excel's Potential with These 12 Copilot Features

February 2, 2026 - 03:16

Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, is transforming how users interact with Excel by automating complex tasks. Moving beyond simple formula help, it can now generate comprehensive formulas from text descriptions, instantly create professional-looking charts, and highlight key trends within datasets. One of its most powerful features is the ability to clean and structure messy data with a simple prompt, saving hours of manual work.

Users can also leverage Copilot to build pivot tables to summarize information, suggest and apply conditional formatting rules, and even answer specific questions about the data in plain language. It simplifies "what-if" analysis by generating projections and can write basic macros, lowering the barrier to automation. These intelligent functions allow small business owners and analysts to focus on insights rather than spreadsheet mechanics.

In other small business tech news, Home Depot has launched a new AI-powered mobile app feature to help customers visualize projects. Payroll provider Gusto announced an integration with ChatGPT to assist with HR tasks. A recent survey also indicates a significant rise in American workers utilizing AI tools for drafting content, data analysis, and managing emails, highlighting the technology's rapid adoption in the workplace.