Microsoft has released an update for Bing Chat, adding significant functionality for users who aim to combine the chatbot's capabilities with Excel. The chatbot now enables users to create tables that can be easily imported into and edited within the web version of Excel. This development comes without a formal announcement on Microsoft's official Bing blog.
Initially disclosed by an individual named Paul Couvert on X, and later independently verified, the feature allows Bing Chat to interpret commands to create structured data. For example, when prompted with a request like “Create a table comparing the evolution of smartphone and laptop sales in value in the US from 2015 to 2022,” Bing Chat generates the corresponding table. Bing Chat can also extract tables from any webpage, converting it into a different format that then can be opened in Excel for further editing.
I just noticed that Bing Chat AI has a great new feature unavailable on ChatGPT.
There's now an Excel integration to export data with a single click.
I'll show you how to use it easily: pic.twitter.com/ni1IbEcFck
— Paul Couvert (@itsPaulAi) November 1, 2023
Integration Process
Users will notice an “Edit to Excel” icon appearing in the corner of the created table. When clicked, this icon redirects to the web version of Excel. From there, the table data formulated by Bing Chat seamlessly imports into an Excel spreadsheet, expediting data management tasks.
2. Export to Excel
Once your table has been generated, click on the Excel icon in the top right-hand corner.
(You may need to allow pop-ups on your browser).
Bing will automatically open the web version of Excel and import your data into it.
You can create charts, perform… pic.twitter.com/xfcLiHp1Nn
— Paul Couvert (@itsPaulAi) November 1, 2023
Microsoft subtly confirmed the feature's existence by replying to Couvert's social media post, quipping, “Bing Chat + Excel = the perfect MATCH.” The integration complements Microsoft 365 Copilot, aiming to leverage generative AI within the Office suite. Although the feature remains in public preview, businesses registered for Copilot can capitalize on it for enhanced productivity.
