Neural Networks for Excel: Which AI Tools Help Work with Tables and Formulas

Excel is used for calculations, reports, and data analysis. Neural networks help simplify work with spreadsheets, create formulas, find errors, clean data, and prepare analytical insights. This article compiles tools that can be used for working with Excel and Google Sheets, along with example prompts for solving everyday tasks.

ChatGPT

It is suitable for analyzing Excel and CSV files, creating formulas, identifying patterns, and preparing reports. Users can upload a spreadsheet and ask it to compare metrics, verify data, build charts, or explain calculations in simple terms.

For example, if a table contains sales data for several months, ChatGPT can help identify the most profitable products, compare results by region, and prepare concise insights. It can also perform calculations using Python and convert data into the desired format.

Example prompt:
“Analyze the uploaded sales table for the last six months. Identify the top five products by revenue, compare sales month by month, find anomalous values, and prepare a summary table. Explain how the results were obtained.”

More information about the service’s capabilities can be found in OpenAI’s official guide to data analysis with ChatGPT.

Microsoft Copilot

Designed for direct work with spreadsheets. Depending on available features and subscription, it helps create formulas, analyze metrics, identify patterns, build charts, and manage workbook structure.

For example, you can ask Copilot to calculate profit for each product, compare sales between regions, or explain how an existing formula works. In some scenarios, the tool also helps identify inconsistencies and standardize data formats.

Example prompt:
“Add a column calculating profit for each product. Use the revenue and cost columns. Then calculate profitability as a percentage and explain the formulas.”

The main advantage of Copilot is that it can work with data directly within an Excel workbook. However, feature availability depends on the program version, account type, and subscription terms.

Details are available in Microsoft’s official documentation on Copilot in Excel.

Google Gemini

Can be used for preparing formulas, processing information, and analyzing tables. Some AI capabilities are available directly in Google Sheets, where Gemini helps create tables, formulas, charts, and pivot tables.

The tool is also useful for processing textual information. For example, it can categorize customer reviews, highlight frequent complaints, or prepare a brief summary of survey results.

Example prompt:
“Divide customer reviews from column A into four categories: product quality, delivery, price, and service. Record the category in column B and separately flag reviews that cannot be clearly classified.”

Some Gemini features in Sheets require a suitable Google Workspace or Google AI subscription plan. More information about integration capabilities can be found in Google Sheets’ official help center.

Claude

Suitable for analyzing large volumes of text, preparing reports, and processing uploaded files. It can be used when tables contain customer reviews, product descriptions, survey results, or other textual data.

For example, Claude can group comments by topic, highlight recurring issues, prepare a concise summary, and help create a file with analysis results.

Example prompt:
“Review the table of customer reviews. Identify the main reasons for dissatisfaction, group similar comments, count the number of reviews in each category, and prepare a table with conclusions. Do not add information not present in the original data.”

File processing and document creation capabilities depend on account features. More details are available in Claude’s official support center.

GPTExcel

A specialized AI service for working with spreadsheets. It helps create and explain Excel and Google Sheets formulas, analyze data, build charts, and fix calculation errors.

Unlike general-purpose chatbots, this service is specifically focused on spreadsheet tasks. This is convenient if you need to quickly obtain a formula without having to figure out all Excel functions yourself.

Example prompt:
“Write an Excel formula that checks the payment date in column C. If the payment date is earlier than the current date and the status in column D is not equal to ‘Paid’, output ‘Overdue’. In all other cases, leave the cell blank. Explain the formula and specify which cell to insert it into.”

Before use, check the terms of free access, request limits, and rules for processing uploaded data.

What tasks can be solved using neural networks

AI is useful not only for writing formulas. It can assist at several stages of working with spreadsheets.

1. Creating formulas. If a user does not know the syntax of a function, they can describe the required calculation in words. For example, asking to calculate the average check, plan completion percentage, or profit considering expenses.

2. Finding errors and duplicates. A neural network can help detect duplicate entries, missing values, inconsistent date formats, and suspicious numbers. However, results should be verified using Excel’s built-in tools.

3. Data cleaning. AI helps standardize product names, split full names into separate columns, group similar entries, and prepare a table for further analysis.

4. Sales and financial analysis. Based on structured data, you can compare revenue across different periods, identify products with low performance, calculate averages, and detect deviations.

5. Creating reports and charts. A neural network can prepare a pivot table, suggest an appropriate chart type, and formulate key insights for a presentation or work report.

Which neural network to choose for Excel

The choice depends on the task and where the user prefers to work.

ChatGPT is suitable for analyzing uploaded tables, explaining formulas, and preparing reports.

Microsoft Copilot is convenient for direct work in Excel, if the necessary features are available in the subscription.

Google Gemini is worth considering for data analysis and task automation in Google Sheets.

Claude is useful for processing text, reviews, and preparing analytical summaries.

GPTExcel is suitable for those who need a specialized tool for formulas and spreadsheet operations.