You Thought Excel Copilot Would Analyze Your Data? Here’s What It Actually Does
When Copilot in Excel Doesn't Do What You Expect
A lot of people open Excel Copilot expecting it to behave like ChatGPT.
You type in a question.
You expect a chart. A total. An insight.
Instead… you get a formula.
It’s confusing—especially when everything else in the AI world seems to just "give you the answer."
But here’s the thing: Excel Copilot isn’t broken. It’s just not your analyst.
What Copilot in Excel Is Actually Built to Do
Microsoft designed Copilot for transparency and structure, not instant results. It doesn’t summarize your data. It helps you build the formulas that do.
Here’s why that’s a feature, not a flaw:
1. Auditability
Copilot inserts formulas, not values. This means you (and your team or auditors) can trace exactly how an outcome was calculated—something essential in finance, healthcare, and compliance-heavy industries.
2. User Control
Copilot suggests. You approve. Nothing runs unless you say so. This prevents silent errors and maintains trust in your workflow.
3. Excel’s DNA
Excel is—and always has been—a formula-driven tool. Copilot simply makes it easier to write functions like XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, and FILTER without Googling syntax or asking around.
What Excel Copilot Can Do
Suggest complex formulas based on natural language
Build PivotTables, charts, and highlight patterns
Auto-apply formatting rules and cleanup tasks
New (rolling out now): Write Python code inside Excel Web for forecasting and simple machine learning tasks
What It Won’t Do
Run calculations for you
Summarize your dataset
Give answers like “Who had the most sales in Q2?” without additional tools
If you’re expecting those kinds of results, you’ll want to pair Copilot with more analysis-focused tools.
What to Use for Real Analysis
| Tool | What It Does | Where to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Excel Analyze Data | Built-in Q&A tool that finds trends, suggests visuals, and answers simple questions | Excel Desktop & Web |
| Power BI Copilot | Conversational dashboard building and report automation | Microsoft Power BI |
| ChatGPT ADA | Upload spreadsheets, ask questions, get instant insights and charts | ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise |
| Google Sheets + Gemini | Smart fill, formula coaching, and contextual categorization | Google Workspace |
Bottom Line: Structure vs. Insight
Excel Copilot helps you structure the sheet.
The rest of the AI stack helps you understand it.
If you know what role each tool plays, you can stop fighting with AI—and start using it to actually save time and make better decisions.
Need Help Optimizing Your Workflow with AI?
At Strategence AI, we help small businesses streamline operations using tools they already have—like Excel, Microsoft 365, and ChatGPT.
Whether you’re trying to save time, reduce manual work, or get more value from your data, we can help you build a smarter, leaner tech stack.