The world of Excel just changed forever (again). Microsoft has released the new =COPILOT() function, a breakthrough that lets you bring AI directly into your spreadsheet cells. No sidebar, no chat window, just a formula that understands your intent.

What the =COPILOT() Function Does

Unlike traditional Excel functions, =COPILOT() uses plain language and real data ranges to generate intelligent results. It can classify text, write summaries, suggest formulas, and even create content—all within the familiar Excel grid.

Syntax:

Arguments:

• prompt_part: Required. Text that describes the task or question for the AI model.
• context: Optional. A cell or range that provides data context for the AI model.

This allows you to combine natural language and structured data in one formula. Excel becomes a reasoning engine, not just a calculator.

Example 1: Classify Job Titles into Broader Roles

A practical business example:

Here’s what this does:

• B1:B10 contains job titles (Account Executive, Sales Rep, Customer Success Manager)
• A1:A4 lists broader categories (Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance)

The output might look like this:

Job Title	Broader Role
AE	Sales
Sales Rep	Sales
Customer Success Manager	Customer Success
Social Media	Marketing

No nested IF statements or lookup tables required, just AI-powered classification inside Excel.

Example 2: Generate Company Descriptions from Websites

Now let’s add CloudExtend to the mix. With CloudExtend’s ExtendInsights Excel Data Connector, you can import company data directly from Salesforce, HubSpot, or other CRMs.

Once you have a list of company URLs, use:

Where B2 contains a company’s website URL or snippet. The result:

Acme Analytics provides cloud-based data visualization tools that help businesses make smarter decisions.

Instantly, every company in your CRM has a concise, AI-written description—without leaving Excel.

Example 3: Write a Personalized Email Intro for an AE

After generating company descriptions, use COPILOT to create a custom email intro for a sales rep:

Result:

Hi Jamie, I noticed Acme Analytics helps teams make data-driven decisions, and I think you’d love how CloudExtend ExtendInsights Excel Data Connector brings all your CRM and analytics data into Excel for faster insights.

Now your team can generate personalized outreach in seconds—powered by AI and real data.

Advanced Tips: Working Efficiently with Arrays and Call Limits

What Counts as a Call

Each separate invocation of the COPILOT() function is a call. This is true even if multiple calls are in one formula. For example:

This formula issues two calls—one for each COPILOT() function. If you nest one COPILOT inside another (for example, using one AI-generated result as part of another prompt), that also counts as multiple calls. However, array outputs do not count as multiple calls. A single COPILOT formula that returns a large spilled array still counts as one call. This is why dynamic arrays are such an advantage for batch processing.

Maximizing Throughput

To stay within Microsoft’s call limits, it’s better to design fewer, more powerful COPILOT formulas rather than many small ones. Each user is limited to a specific number of COPILOT calculations per hour, so batching saves time and capacity. If you need to generate or analyze large amounts of data, do it in one go with an array formula.

Microsoft recommends passing arrays because a single call that includes a larger range of data counts as one usage. For instance, instead of placing =COPILOT(…) in 50 rows down a column, use one formula that references the full range and spills results to all 50 rows. This approach counts as a single call, not 50, and is easier to maintain.

Leverage Dynamic Arrays for Batch Processing

As noted, take advantage of COPILOT’s ability to spill results. If you have repetitive tasks, feed them to the AI in one batch.

Example: Suppose you have a list of product descriptions and you want COPILOT to generate short code names for each product. You could drag a formula down each row, but a better way is:

Assuming A2:A50 contains the product descriptions, this single formula will return 49 code names in an array spill. This method stays within call limits and provides more consistent results since COPILOT processes all items together. Microsoft notes that the COPILOT function can return multi-row and multi-column results that spill directly into the grid.

If you need multiple columns (for example, a classification and a justification), ask for both in your prompt. COPILOT will separate the responses with delimiters like commas or tabs, and Excel will automatically place each part into the right column.

Why It Matters for ExtendInsights Users

The =COPILOT() function transforms Excel from a manual data tool into a creative, reasoning platform. For ExtendInsights users, this is a major leap forward:

• Combine AI with live CRM or ERP data
• Automate classifications, summaries, and content creation
• Empower teams to focus on insights instead of data prep
• Eliminate scripts, macros, and complex formulas

When paired with ExtendInsights, your spreadsheet becomes an intelligent workspace for analytics, marketing, and sales.

Getting Started

1 . Ensure you’re using the latest Microsoft 365 build with =COPILOT() access.

2. Type your formula using the format:

3. Connect your CRM or ERP data using CloudExtend’s ExtendInsights Excel Data Connector.

4. Start experimenting—classify, summarize, and personalize directly within Excel.

Final Thought

The new =COPILOT() function turns Excel into a thinking assistant that works where you already do. For ExtendInsights users, it’s the ultimate combination of AI, automation, and live business data.

👉 Learn more about CloudExtend ExtendInsights Excel Data Connector and discover how to bring AI-powered intelligence into your everyday Excel workflows.