Excel canvas will automatically turn your spreadsheets into reports with AI
In 30 seconds
Microsoft has announced Excel canvas, a Copilot capability that turns workbook data into a report with visualizations, metrics and insights. The report refreshes automatically when the data changes, and it can be refined by asking Copilot in natural language. It reaches Excel for Windows and Excel for the web from mid-October.
On October 2, Microsoft told Microsoft 365 administrators that Excel canvas is on its way, a new capability of Copilot, its AI assistant, in Excel. It turns workbook data into a report with visualizations, metrics and insights.
The report refreshes automatically when the workbook data changes, and users can refine and customize it by asking Copilot in natural language, as in a chat.
The rollout begins in mid-October and Microsoft expects to complete it by the end of the month. It will reach Excel for Windows and Excel for the web, for users with access to Copilot in Excel, and administrators do not need to prepare anything.
We believe it can save a lot of time for many small businesses: it is common to build the same report by hand, every week or every month, from a spreadsheet. That said, it is worth checking the charts and figures Copilot picks before sharing the report.
Why it matters
The report built by hand every week or every month can now come straight out of the spreadsheet.
Official source: Microsoft
