5 EASY STEPS TO CREATE CUSTOM AI FUNCTIONS IN EXCEL

Creating custom AI functions in Excel involves integrating an external AI service (like a large language model) using a simple formula or a low-code platform, rather than traditional VBA. This allows you to perform complex text classification, summarization, and data generation directly within a spreadsheet cell.

5 Easy Steps To Create Custom Ai Functions In Excel

Here are 5 easy steps to create and use custom AI functions in Excel:

• SELECT AN AI INTEGRATION PLATFORM: You need a tool that bridges Excel and the AI model (like GPT). Instead of writing complex API code, use a user-friendly third-party add-in or a custom Excel function. These tools provide a simple function that takes your prompt and cell reference as arguments.

  Action: Install a popular AI Excel add-in (e.g., Prompt Loop, Numerous.ai, or similar GPT-integrators) that simplifies API calls. This step effectively installs a new custom formula into Excel, often called something like =AI() or =GPT().

  
  

• PREPARE YOUR INPUT DATA: Ensure the data you want the AI to analyze is clean, structured, and ready to be referenced in a formula. The power of custom AI functions is that they work dynamically across a column.

  Action: Organize your data into an Excel Table with clear headers. Identify the column containing the input text you want the AI to process (e.g., a column of raw customer comments, job descriptions, or product names).

  
  

• DEFINE THE FUNCTION WITH A CLEAR PROMPT: Write a clear, specific natural language prompt that tells the AI exactly what you want it to output for each row. The quality of your prompt determines the quality of the result.

  Action: In a new, empty column next to your input data, enter your custom AI function. Your prompt should instruct the AI and reference the input cell.

  Example Prompt: =AI("Classify the following customer review as either 'Positive', 'Negative', or 'Neutral': " & A2)

  (Where A2 contains the customer review text.)

  
  

• DRAG THE FORMULA TO APPLY ACROSS DATA: Once you have the formula entered in the first cell, Excel treats it like any other dynamic function.

  Action: Click the fill handle (the small square at the bottom right corner of the cell containing the AI formula) and drag it down the column. The AI function will automatically execute the prompt for every single row, generating a custom classification or summary for each data point.

  
  

• ANALYZE AND REFINE THE OUTPUT: The AI-generated results appear as static text outputs in your spreadsheet. You must verify and analyze these results.

  Action: Review the first 10-20 AI outputs for accuracy. If the classification is wrong, refine your original prompt (e.g., add context: "Only classify based on product quality, ignore delivery comments"). Once the results are satisfactory, you can use PivotTables on the new AI-generated column to summarize and visualize the custom segments.

  
  

This process allows you to perform advanced text analysis and classification directly in Excel without needing complex external coding or deep machine learning expertise.