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In this article we will show you how to use ChatGPT to write Excel formulas. When you have a lot of data on a spreadsheet and you need an intricate formula that goes beyond calculating a sum — or when you’re Excel formula challenged — it can be difficult to figure out how to write the perfect Excel formula to achieve the desired result. This can be especially difficult if you’re not familiar with Excel formulas. Now, all of that has changed, and ChatGPT has become the poster child for the saying ‘work smarter, not harder.’ Platforms that are powered by AI such as ChatGPT are now able to complete tasks (such as the one at hand, which is creating Excel formulas) with greater ease, accuracy, and speed than ever before. Despite this, we cannot say for certain that it is a fail-safe method.
Since ChatGPT was made available to the general public, its uses have included everything from fixing bugs in computer code to plagiarizing academic papers to translating lines from popular television shows into Shakespearean English (you should really give it a shot). The generation of formulas that can be used in Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets is, however, one of the most useful applications of the software that is also one of the least appreciated. Discover how to use ChatGPT to write Excel formulasinto a spreadsheet expert with the help of this guide.
What is ChatGPT?
Open AI, a company that does AI research, came up with Chat GPT, which stands for Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer. The technology behind it is called artificial intelligence (AI), and it can understand natural human language and respond. A simple way to put it is that Chat GPT can answer your question. One question we asked Chat GPT was, “What is assistive technology?”
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Natural language processing (NLP) | ChatGPT uses NLP techniques to understand and generate text. This allows it to communicate and generate intuitive responses to human inputs. |
| Generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) | ChatGPT is based on the GPT-3.5 architecture, which is a generative pre-trained transformer model. This means that it has been trained on a massive dataset of text and code, which allows it to generate text that is both coherent and grammatically correct. |
| Tabular formatting | ChatGPT can understand and process tabular data. This allows it to answer questions about tabular data, such as “What is the average age of the people in this table?” or “What is the most common country of origin in this table?” |
| Code execution | ChatGPT can execute code in Python. This allows it to be used for a variety of tasks, such as data analysis, machine learning, and natural language processing. |
| Google Play Store | Download Now |
| iOS Store | Download Now |
Any tool, piece of equipment, or piece of software that is made to help disabled people do things that would be hard or impossible for them to do without it is called assistive technology. But it’s not just that. You can ask it to write computer code, help you plan a fun day as a tourist in New York City, explain quantum mechanics, or solve math problems.
How to use ChatGPT to write Excel formulas
- Open the Excel file that you want to use.
- Now, open your web browser and go to ChatGPT.com. After that, sign in to your OpenAI account. Now you should see ChatGPT’s new chat screen.
- At the bottom of the new chat screen, in the “Send a message…” text box, type in your question about getting an Excel formula for your data. Next, press the Enter key on your keyboard.
- When ChatGPT answers your question, they should give you a formula to use and a short explanation of how to put it into an Excel spreadsheet. To copy the formula from the chat screen, select it and press CTRL + C on your keyboard.
- You need to go to your Excel sheet and pick the cell where you want the formula to go. Then press CTRL + V on your keyboard to paste your formula into the cell. The right answer to your formula should show up right away in the cell you chose.
- Then, to add the correct answers for each product or service to the other blank cells in Column D (Differences), all you have to do is move your mouse over the bottom right corner of the cell where you just copied and pasted your formula. Once you see the black plus sign, click on the corner and drag your mouse to select the whole column all the way to the last row of notes.
- Let’s look at one more example, this time adding. In the same spreadsheet, we now need to find the total of all the numbers in Column B, which is called “Projected Price.”
- ChatGPT should give you its formula and tell you how to use it in response. As we did with the subtraction formula earlier in this guide, you should then copy and paste that formula into the cell you want to use it in.
- Finally, we’ll add the subtotals of columns C and D (the actual prices and differences of all the products and services) to the rest of the data in this spreadsheet. To do this, we’ll move our cursor to the lower right corner of the cell where we just copied and pasted our addition formula.
Benefits of Using ChatGPT for Excel Formulas
- Quick and Convenient Assistance: ChatGPT can provide immediate help with Excel formulas, making it a quick and convenient resource for users who need assistance with their spreadsheets.
- Accessibility: ChatGPT is accessible online, allowing users to get help with Excel formulas from virtually anywhere with an internet connection, eliminating the need for physical presence or scheduling appointments.
- Availability 24/7: ChatGPT is available around the clock, so users can seek assistance at any time, even outside of traditional working hours.
- Cost-Effective: ChatGPT offers cost-effective support, as there are no fees associated with using the service beyond internet access. This can be especially useful for individuals and small businesses with limited budgets.
- Wide Range of Excel Formulas: ChatGPT can provide assistance with a wide variety of Excel formulas, from simple calculations to complex functions, catering to the diverse needs of Excel users.
- Step-by-Step Guidance: ChatGPT can provide step-by-step instructions and explanations for using specific Excel formulas, making it a valuable learning tool for those looking to improve their Excel skills.
Integrating Excel Formulas into Your Workflow
- Access Excel: Open the Excel file you intend to work with.
- Web Access: Launch your web browser and visit ChatGPT.com. Log in to your OpenAI account to access ChatGPT’s chat screen.
- Ask Your Question: In the chat screen’s “Send a message…” text box, type your query related to Excel formulas for your data. Then, press the Enter key.
- Receive Formula and Explanation: After ChatGPT provides you with a formula, ensure to copy it. To do so, select the formula text and press CTRL + C on your keyboard. Make sure to grasp the accompanying explanation for clarity.
- Apply Formula in Excel: Navigate to your Excel sheet and select the cell where you wish to apply the formula. Paste the copied formula using CTRL + V. The cell will display the desired result immediately.
- Extend Formula to Other Cells: To apply the same formula to multiple cells, move your cursor to the bottom right corner of the cell where you pasted the formula. When a black plus sign appears, click and drag to select the entire column down to the last row.
Questions and Answers
By uploading Excel files into Chat GPT, you can save time, as the AI model can analyze data faster and more accurately than a human. Ease of use and Accessible Insights: Uploading Excel files into Chat GPT sounds like an easy process. It doesn’t require any technical knowledge or skills.
With ChatGPT for Excel, you can ask the AI to explain Excel concepts and give you the syntax for formulas and functions. ChatGPT can also look at data in Excel and give you VBA code for macros.
One good thing about using ChatGPT to analyze data in Excel is that it can show you your data in a way that makes it easier to understand. You can ask ChatGPT to make graphs and charts that show your data and point out important patterns and trends.