13 AI Prompts For MS Excel: An Ultimate Guide For Beginners
The AI revolution continues to disrupt various industries and sectors. These AI prompts, powered by platforms like Chat GPT and Bard, bring Excel users a new level of intelligence and efficiency.
Yes, you heard it right! With the help of Chat GPT and its competitor, BARD AI, you can conquer complex Excel challenges and elevate your proficiency to new heights. In this captivating blog post, we will explore the incredible capabilities of AI Prompts for MS Excel.
Get ready to tap into this dynamic duo’s potential as they unlock the secrets of this versatile software. From unravelling complex formulas to enhancing your knowledge in specific topics, you’ll discover how AI can be your ultimate ally in conquering MS Excel and boosting your job search.
Introducing BARD: AI Prompts for MS Excel
BARD is a Language Learning Model created by Google AI. Since its launch in March, it has experienced rapid growth thanks to its user feedback. BARD isn’t limited to being a standalone platform; it can also be used as a Google Chrome extension and integrated into websites and social media platforms. Unlike Google Search, which offers several options, BARD refines search results to match the specific context better.
Getting started with BARD

Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Visit the BARD website at http://bard.google.com.
2. Sign up or sign in using your Google account.
3. Agree to the terms and conditions that appear on your screen.
4. If you wish to receive the latest news from BARD, check the opt-in box. Otherwise, click “Continue” if you’re not interested.
5. VoilĂ ! You’re now in and ready to go.
Getting Started on Chat GPT

There are two versions of Chat GPT: 3.5 and 4.0. Chat GPT 3.5 is mainly a text-based predictive tool, while GPT 4.0 is both a text-based and an image tool. This means GPT 4.0 can interpret, analyse, and provide recommendations based on photo prompts.
GPT 4.0 is only available to premium users for $20 per month, as it offers more advanced features. However, GPT 3.5 is free for everyone to use.
If you don’t have an account, we recommend opening a free one by following the steps below:
1. Open Chrome, Opera Mini or any browser.
2. Go to the chat platform.
3. Sign up for an Open AI Account by clicking the bright green button.
4. Create an account using Google, Apple, or Microsoft, or enter your email.
5. Check your inbox for an automated link to verify your email.
6. After authentication, fill in your details, such as name and phone number.
8. You’ll receive a confirmation code.
9. Enter the confirmation code to gain access. Viola, You are in!
Difference Between Chat GPT (Free Version) and BARD AI
It’s worth noting that while BARD AI is continually improving, Chat GPT is also being enhanced over time. Both models aim to serve different purposes and cater to different use cases, so the choice between them depends on the specific needs and requirements of the user.
1. Data Source: The free version of Chat GPT has a knowledge cutoff in September 2021, meaning it does not have access to real-time information beyond that date. On the other hand, BARD AI has an advantage as it is tied to Google and can retrieve information from the internet, allowing it to provide more up-to-date data points for new research
2. Direct Functions: Both Chat GPT and BARD AI are language models that aim to provide conversational and contextual answers. However, they have unique strengths. Chat GPT excels at providing alternative meanings or perspectives to a given text request, offering creative and nuanced responses. On the other hand, BARD AI is designed to go in-depth on specific topics, providing comprehensive information and detailed explanations.
Chat GPT vs BARD AI: Exploring MS Excel Contents
When understanding broad and complex topics, leveraging AI can be a game-changer. However, asking specific questions to maximise AI assistance is crucial. You have to go beyond the basics to fully comprehend Excel concepts and compare the responses from different platforms.
Let’s look at an example prompt and compare the explanations from Chat GPT and BARD AI. We’ll use this prompt from enterprise DNA to demonstrate;
“What is the difference between absolute and relative references in Excel?”


VS

Chat GPT and BARD AI offer detailed explanations, but notable differences exist. BARD AI’s response stands out by providing explicit examples and including direct sources for further exploration. On the other hand, Chat GPT presents a summarised version of the explanation. In this case, BARD AI wins with its comprehensive and illustrative approach.
5 AI Prompts for Practice:
1. “Simplify the Concepts of Power Query in MS Excel?”
2. “Please give me a brief introduction on the topic, ‘conditional formatting’ in ‘MS Excel’.”
3. “What is the Difference between Vlookup and Hlookup Functions in MS Excel?”
4. “Can I use an IF Formula in conditional formatting?”
5. “As a Beginner MS Excel User, Tell me everything I need to Know about Data Validation?”
By using these prompts, you can delve deeper into various MS Excel topics and gain a better understanding. Craft clear and concise questions to obtain the most accurate and relevant responses.
Getting Specific with AI Prompts: Harnessing the Power of Chat GPT and BARD AI
It’s essential to break down your questions into smaller tasks or instructions to obtain precise guidance from AI. By doing so, you can obtain more accurate and detailed responses. Let’s consider the sample question below
Sample Question:
“Walk me through the MS Excel Power Query Process.”
1. “How can I get started with the Get and Transform Tool?“
2. “How do I select multiple values, such as Customer A & B, especially when dealing with extensive data, using Power Query?”

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Personally, Chat GPT’s response wins this round in terms of explicitness and the ability to offer perspectives on the text request.
Its detailed breakdown can be attributed to its language modelling capabilities. It excels in understanding the nuances of the text, allowing it to provide comprehensive explanations. Chat GPT could delve into each aspect of the Power Query process by evaluating each separate command, offering a more detailed response.
13 AI Prompts for Practice:
1. “Calculate the average sales for May based on the given data range.”
2. “Use the IF function to determine whether a student passed or failed based on their exam score (passing score: 70).”
3. “Create a pivot table to analyse the total revenue generated by each sales representative for the past quarter.”
4. “Set up a conditional formatting rule highlighting cells with values greater than 100 in green and those less than 50 in red.”
5. “Design a bar chart to compare the monthly expenses of different departments in a company.”
6. “Write a VLOOKUP formula that retrieves the corresponding product name based on the product ID entered in a specific cell.”
7. “Combine the first name and last name columns into a single column using the CONCATENATE function.”
8. “Implement a data validation rule that allows only whole numbers between 1 and 100 in a specific cell.”
9. “Build a macro that automatically sorts a table in ascending order based on a specific column.”
10. “Calculate the compound interest for an investment with a given principal, interest rate, and period using a formula.”
11. “Create a scatter plot to visualise the relationship between a company’s advertising expenditure and sales revenue.”
12. “Develop a formula that counts the number of cells in a range meeting specific criteria, such as containing certain text or exceeding a given value.”
13. “Explain the functionality of the SUMIF function in MS Excel.
Next Steps
Leveraging AI models like Chat GPT and BARD AI can greatly enhance your ability to solve specific Excel problems. Breaking down questions into smaller tasks allows for more accurate responses. By comparing explanations from different AI models and practising with diverse prompts, you can master Excel and efficiently tackle any challenge.
If you want to enhance your Excel skills and unlock the full potential of these powerful AI tools, o sign up for our MS Excel Bootcamp. Our bootcamp offers a comprehensive hands-on learning experience, covering various topics and tools. You’ll gain the confidence and proficiency needed to excel in Excel through interactive sessions, practical exercises, and expert guidance.
Don’t miss the opportunity to take your Excel skills to the next level.