396728 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): Copilot in Excel with Python (archived)

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps

Platform:

Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

With Copilot, you can use natural language to describe the analysis you want to perform, and it will automatically generate, explain, and insert Python code into your Excel spreadsheet. This integration unlocks powerful analytics via Python for visualizations, cleaning data, machine learning, predictive analytics, and more—without needing to be Python proficient yourself. We are updating this item to reflect that the feature is currently available within the USA, Australia, and the UK, and is still rolling out to all other geolocations.

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Preview

Created:
2024-09-17

updated:
2025-03-07

Public Preview Start Date

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Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Disruption
Users may experience confusion and frustration if the Copilot feature is rolled out without adequate training or documentation, leading to decreased productivity and potential errors in data analysis.
   - roles: Data Analysts, Business Users
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/03/16/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot/, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/03/20/microsoft-copilot-in-excel-what-you-need-to-know/

Integration Issues
If the Copilot feature is implemented without proper integration testing, it may lead to compatibility issues with existing Excel functionalities, causing crashes or data loss.
   - roles: IT Support, Data Engineers
   - references: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/excel-blog/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot-in-excel/ba-p/3741230, https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-copilot-in-excel-what-you-need-to-know/

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you're trying to bake a cake, but instead of knowing all the recipes and techniques yourself, you have a professional chef standing by your side. You simply tell the chef what kind of cake you want, and they guide you through the process, even handling the more complex parts like measuring and mixing. This is similar to what Microsoft Copilot is doing for Excel users with its integration of Python.

Microsoft Copilot allows you to use plain English to describe the kind of data analysis you want to perform in Excel. Think of it as having a conversation with a helpful assistant who understands your needs and can translate them into the technical steps required. For instance, if you want to analyze sales trends or predict future performance, you don't need to know how to write Python code. Copilot will generate the necessary code, explain what it does, and insert it into your spreadsheet for you.

This is particularly useful for tasks like creating visualizations, cleaning up messy data, or even running machine learning models. You get the power of Python's advanced analytics without needing to be an expert in programming. It's like having a powerful tool at your disposal, where you only need to know what you want to achieve, not how to technically achieve it.

Currently, this feature is available in the USA, Australia, and the UK, with plans to expand to other regions. Just as a new gadget might first be available in certain stores before becoming widely accessible, this rollout ensures that the feature is thoroughly tested and refined before reaching a global audience.