The Register: Microsoft crams Copilot AI directly into Excel cells

Aug 18, 2025

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Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/18/microsoft_adds_copilot_ai_formulas/
Source: The Register
Title: Microsoft crams Copilot AI directly into Excel cells

Feedly Summary: Meet the new COPILOT function
Microsoft, in its ongoing effort to AI-ify every product it has, is now adding it right into the cells of Excel. Available on Monday to beta users of Microsoft 365 Copilot, a new COPILOT function allows you to task Redmond’s AI with performing generative tasks right in, for example, C2 or B23.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: Microsoft is integrating a new COPILOT function into Excel as part of its Microsoft 365 Copilot offering, enabling users to leverage AI for generative tasks directly within spreadsheets. This integration marks a significant step in enhancing user productivity and highlights the growing trend of AI enhancement in software applications.

Detailed Description: Microsoft’s introduction of the COPILOT function within Excel is a noteworthy development in the realm of AI-driven applications. As organizations increasingly adopt AI to streamline processes and enhance functionalities, this feature presents both opportunities and challenges for security and compliance professionals. The key points concerning this release include:

– **AI Integration**: The COPILOT function exemplifies AI’s growing role in software, allowing users to perform tasks more efficiently by leveraging generative AI directly within Excel cells.
– **User Productivity**: This functionality aims to improve user productivity by automating tasks such as data analysis, content generation, and formula creation, streamlining workflows considerably.
– **Beta Launch**: The new feature is currently available to beta users of Microsoft 365 Copilot, likely indicating a phased rollout and the potential for iterative improvements based on user feedback.
– **Implications for Security**: As AI capabilities expand within widely-used tools, organizations must consider the associated security risks, such as data privacy concerns, the need for governance frameworks, and ensuring compliance with regulations affecting AI usage.
– **Cloud-Connected Features**: As Microsoft 365 is inherently a cloud-based service, this functionality also emphasizes the importance of cloud computing security measures to protect sensitive data that may be manipulated or generated by AI.

This integration raises questions about AI management, user permissions, and the safeguarding of intellectual property, which are critical for security and compliance professionals to address as AI tools become increasingly embedded in everyday business applications.

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