Excel 365 and AI: Getting started with Copilot and Claude

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we interact with data.

This introductory training is designed for professionals who use Excel regularly and want to discover how AI can help them save time, structure their data, generate formulas, create visuals and accelerate certain analyses. Through concrete examples, you will learn how to use Copilot in Excel 365 and explore the possibilities offered by external models such as Claude to go further in file analysis.

You will discover how to create effective prompts to make AI your assistant for generating formulas, cleaning data and creating visuals. The training also covers the transition from "assistant" AI to "agentic" AI, capable of taking initiative and handling complex connections, particularly by using Claude in connected mode for advanced data analysis, supported by practical exercises.

Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand how Copilot works in general and apply best practices for writing effective prompts.
• Use Copilot in Excel to quickly format, sort and filter data.
• Generate complex formulas and relevant charts using natural language.
• Delegate exploratory analysis tasks to AI in an assistant role.
• Understand the concept of "agentic" AI and its future applications within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
• Understand Claude's strengths compared to Copilot and know how to use Claude in connected mode to analyze complex Excel datasets.

1. AI and the art of prompting
   • Key concepts, LLMs, structure of an effective prompt...
2. Copilot as a native "assistant" in Excel
   • Table preparation, data manipulation, formula generation, visualization...
3. "Agentic" AI and the power of Claude :
   • From assistant to agent: the difference between executing a command with Copilot and solving a problem autonomously with agents. 
   • Introduction to Claude for data analysis: why go beyond Excel? The advantages of Claude.
4. Overall hands-on practice
   • Exercises

This training is intended for professionals, including analysts, managers, administrative staff, HR professionals and sales teams, who use Excel regularly and want to automate time-consuming tasks, accelerate their data analysis and/or become familiar with generative AI tools integrated into their work environment.