What You'll Learn
How to use AI to understand and interpret spreadsheet data without needing complex formulas — just paste your data and ask questions in plain English.
Why This Matters
Spreadsheets can be intimidating, especially when you need insights quickly. AI lets you skip the formula-writing and ask questions like "What's the trend here?" or "Which product sold the most in Q3?" — and get clear, readable answers instantly.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Prepare your data
Copy a manageable section of your spreadsheet — a few rows and columns work best. Remove any sensitive information before pasting.
Step 2: Paste and ask your question
Here is data from my spreadsheet:
[paste your data]
Question: [What do you want to know? e.g. "Which month had the highest sales?" or "Summarise the key trends."]
Step 3: Ask follow-up questions
You don't have to get everything in one go. Follow up naturally:
Which category is underperforming compared to last month?
What might explain the drop in March?
Step 4: Request a summary or recommendations
Based on this data, write a 3-bullet summary I can share with my manager.
Tips for Better Results
- Describe what the columns mean. Add a brief note like "Column A is date, Column B is units sold, Column C is revenue" for clearer results.
- Ask for calculations. AI can total, average, or compare figures even from pasted text.
- Use Claude or ChatGPT for large datasets. Both handle longer pastes well and can spot patterns across many rows.
- Ask "why" questions. AI can suggest possible reasons behind the data, not just describe it.
- Request visualisation advice. Try: "What type of chart would best display this data?"