Microsoft rolled out a new AI-agent mode for Excel on Windows and macOS on Jan 27, 2026. The feature lets you set a goal and watch the sheet do the work.
Microsoft said in a press release that the agent sketches out action plans, fixes broken formulas, reshapes raw data, and pulls live web info—all without a step-by-step prompt.
You can flip between OpenAI GPT-5.2 for laser-sharp calculations and Anthropic Claude Opus 4.5 for tangled logic, picking the model right in the Agent UI. The Verge reported early testers praised the seamless model switching.
Microsoft 365 Copilot subscribers in both commercial and consumer tiers get the feature today, while the EU and UK rollout stays on hold for compliance checks.
For example, a finance analyst can ask the sheet to consolidate a budget. The agent merges the tabs, double-checks totals, and flags any oddball numbers.
Analysts say the move could reshape how teams tackle data-heavy chores, turning spreadsheet work into a more autonomous process.
