The AI tab is a full chat interface, not just a workbook summarizer. Its empty state reads “Ask me anything about your spreadsheet, data analysis, or report generation.”. Unlike Find with AI on the Build tab (which only suggests report content), the assistant here can take action directly in your workbook.
The AI tab before a conversation has started.
Chat Sessions
Use the chat icon menu to start a New chat or switch between Your chats. If someone on your organization shares a session with you, it appears under Shared with me. Shared sessions open read-only, marked with a “Viewing shared session (read-only)” banner and a Back to my chats button. To share one of your own sessions, check the Share box in the session menu.
Switching between past chat sessions under Your chats.
Giving the AI Context
Select cells in Excel, then click Add cells in the AI tab to attach that selection, values and formatting, as a removable chip on your next message. Selections beyond 500 cells are still attached but flagged large. For a quick summary of whatever you have selected, click Summarize instead. It attaches the selection and sends “Summarize the content that is selected” automatically.
Add cells or Summarize, ready to attach the current Excel selection.
What the AI Can Do in Excel
When it's useful to the conversation, the assistant can act on the workbook directly rather than just describing what to do. Each action shows inline as it executes:
- Set cell values and formulas
- Format cells and apply cell styles
- Merge and unmerge cells
- Clear cell contents
- Copy formatting from one range to another
The assistant setting and merging cells directly in the workbook, then explaining what it did.
Usage Limits
A usage bar above the message box tracks spend against your monthly AI limit (or your team's limit, in an organization context), with a warning as you approach it. Once the limit is reached, the message box disables with a “Usage limit reached” placeholder until it resets at the start of your next billing cycle.