Artificial intelligence is transforming how we work in spreadsheets—and Excel 365 is no exception. Whether you’re wrangling data, forecasting revenue, or trying to make sense of customer trends, AI is now baked into the tools we use every day.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to use AI in Excel 365 and introduce you to Subset the best AI Spreadsheet tool, a powerful, Excel-compatible solution that takes AI-assisted spreadsheet building to the next level.
What AI Can Do in Excel 365
If you’re using Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), you may already have access to Excel Copilot—Microsoft’s integrated AI assistant. Copilot is designed to help you get more out of your data, using natural language prompts to:
- Summarize large datasets
- Suggest or fix formulas
- Create pivot tables and charts
- Highlight trends and outliers
- Generate what-if scenarios
🧠 Example prompt:
"Analyze this sales data and show which region has the highest growth over the last 6 months."
Excel Copilot responds by inserting formulas, building charts, and offering insights directly in your spreadsheet.
How to Access It:
- You must have a Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Enterprise license.
- Excel Copilot is available as part of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365.
Limitations of AI in Excel 365
While Excel Copilot is a strong tool, there are still gaps:
- It’s only available to licensed enterprise users.
- Editing results still requires traditional Excel knowledge.
- Complex spreadsheet logic or structured templates often require manual setup.
- Collaboration with AI happens inside Excel, but not always fluidly.
That’s where Subset AI Spreadsheet enters the picture—with a more seamless experience.
Subset AI Spreadsheet: A Smarter Way to Use AI in Excel
If you’re wondering how to use AI in Excel 365, but want more flexibility and power, Subset AI Spreadsheet offers a best-in-class experience.
What Is Subset?
Subset is an AI-powered spreadsheet tool that feels like Excel but thinks like ChatGPT. It lets you chat with an AI assistant who can:
- Build entire spreadsheets from scratch based on your request
- Apply advanced formatting and formulas
- Insert editable, Excel-compatible functions
- Allow you to tweak the spreadsheet in the same interface—no switching between tools
Think of it as Excel, but with a built-in AI partner that works like a co-analyst.
How Subset Works (With Examples)
Instead of switching between a prompt window and a spreadsheet, Subset lets you work in one unified space. Here’s what you can do:
🔧 Example 1: Build a Financial Model
Prompt:
“Create a monthly cash flow model for a startup with fixed costs, payroll, and recurring SaaS expenses.”
Subset responds with a spreadsheet that includes:
- Logical structure with headers and sections
- Formula-filled cells
- Consistent formatting
- Editable functions just like Excel
📊 Example 2: Analyze Sales Pipeline
Prompt:
“Summarize win rates and average deal size by sales rep using this CSV of pipeline data.”
Subset:
- Imports your data
- Cleans and organizes it
- Applies formulas like
AVERAGEIF,COUNTIF, and evenVLOOKUPorINDEX/MATCH - Builds a clear, interactive summary
Why Subset Is a Game-Changer
Here’s what sets Subset apart:
Getting Started with Subset AI Spreadsheet
You don’t need to install anything special. Just sign in to Subset, describe what you want in plain English, and the AI does the heavy lifting. You can then review, modify, and export or collaborate—just like in Excel.
It’s the best way to bring true AI interactivity into your spreadsheet workflows.
Final Thoughts: Excel 365 + AI, Supercharged by Subset
AI in Excel 365 is already powerful—but if you're looking for an AI that not only suggests, but actually builds your spreadsheet—formulas, formatting, and all—Subset AI Spreadsheet is your next step.
Whether you're in finance, operations, or data analytics, tools like Subset are changing what spreadsheets can be: not just a canvas, but a collaborative partner.