In this article
COPILOT (2025) sends a prompt plus the cells you reference to Microsoft’s AI and returns the answer into the grid, e.g. classify feedback, summarise comments or extract a value from text. Results are AI-generated, can vary and must be checked.
Advertisement
Syntax
=COPILOT(prompt_part1, [context1], [prompt_part2], [context2], ...)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
prompt_part |
Instruction text |
context |
Cells or ranges the AI should read |
Examples
Example 1
=COPILOT("Classify as Positive, Neutral or Negative:", A2)Result: Positive. See the worked example table below for more cases.
COPILOT in practice
Where you will use it
- Classifying customer feedback as Positive/Neutral/Negative
- Pulling a product name out of messy text
- First drafts of short summaries
Worked example
| Feedback | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery was late but the product is great | =COPILOT("Classify as Positive, Neutral or Negative:", A2) | Positive |
| Worst service ever | =COPILOT("Classify as Positive, Neutral or Negative:", A3) | Negative |
| Okay, nothing special | =COPILOT("Classify as Positive, Neutral or Negative:", A4) | Neutral |
Not calculated here: COPILOT needs the latest Microsoft 365 with a Copilot licence. The result shown is what it returns.
Mistakes people make
| Mistake | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Using it for exact numbers or totals | Use normal formulas for maths; AI answers can be wrong |
| Sensitive data | Check your organisation's policy before sending data to AI |
Related functions
📚 Part of the free Excel course: Beginner → Expert · Try it in the Formula Lab or ask the AI Helper.
Advertisement
✨ Ask AI about this article
Stuck on a step? Ask a question and the AI answers using this article.
Free · AI can be wrong