Excel is changing. It’s going from a tool that helps you work, to a tool that can do some of the work for you 📊
Microsoft released Agent Mode late last year for Excel on the web. It’s now coming to Excel on Windows, and it’s more than just a straight port of the web version.
So, what is Agent Mode?
It uses AI to tell Excel what you’d like to do, rather than clicking through the steps yourself.
Now you can describe the result you’re looking for, and Excel can work through the steps, like building formulas, charts, or layouts.
Instead of just helping write a formula it can build the whole thing on your behalf.
The Windows version offers more flexibility than the web version.
Agent Mode integrates with Copilot in Excel, and you can choose from a number of AI models to do the processing.
Certain models excel at quick, well-organised tasks.
Others excel at thorough, exploratory work.
Excel can automatically select the appropriate option, or you can manually select one if you require a higher level of control.
It uses OpenAI and Anthropic models, but "Auto" mode lets you use it without needing to know the differences.
The practical improvements are what matter most.
Agent Mode is now quicker and more reliable for everyday Excel jobs. Like creating workbooks, fixing broken formulas, generating charts, and even pulling in live data from the web when needed.
You give outcome-based instructions, and the AI model works toward that goal.
You should still check what is produced (always check), but it dramatically reduces the setup work.
Spreadsheets are not going away any time soon. But the skill is shifting from how to build everything to how to ask for the right result.
Understanding your goals is more important than knowing every button and process.
This has the potential to change how people use Excel in the years to come.
💭 If you could ask Excel to so something instead of clicking everything, what is the first task you’d happily hand over?
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