Ask HN: Cursor-like AI tool for Excel power users

#1

Post by Cilvic » Wed, May 14, 2025, 2:14 PM UTC

I'm looking for a "real" "Cursor for Excel/Google Sheets" kind of tool.

All my tries with Gemini/MS Copilot where just bad so far.

Re: Ask HN: Cursor-like AI tool for Excel power users

#2

Post by radanskoric » Wed, May 14, 2025, 2:19 PM UTC

Interesting, can you share a bit more regarding what you tried with Gemini/MS Copilot and how it failed?

If there isn't a "real" tool out there, collecting use cases would help anyone thinking about creating it.

Re: Ask HN: Cursor-like AI tool for Excel power users

#3

Post by Cilvic » Wed, May 14, 2025, 6:13 PM UTC

radanskoric wrote: post #2

Interesting, can you share a bit more regarding what you tried with Gemini/MS Copilot and how it failed? If there isn't a "real" tool out there, collecting use cases would help anyone thinking about creating it.

- write formulas for me (single cell but let me say in english what I want then give me the formula) - do more complex things like "add another week" (1) insert new column (2) copy all formulas (3) adjust the fixed date - Explain a sheet / formula / section - Help me understand where this value comes from - do large scale formatting adjustments/alignments - find discrepancies / inconsistencies

Re: Ask HN: Cursor-like AI tool for Excel power users

#4

Post by rooty_ship » Thu, May 15, 2025, 10:21 AM UTC

AI analysis Excel is usually done by writing code to complete the analysis and finally making a summary

Re: Ask HN: Cursor-like AI tool for Excel power users

#5

Post by rooty_ship » Thu, May 15, 2025, 10:23 AM UTC

Cilvic wrote: post #3

radanskoric wrote: post #2

Interesting, can you share a bit more regarding what you tried with Gemini/MS Copilot and how it failed? If there isn't a "real" tool out there, collecting use cases would help anyone thinking about creating it.

- write formulas for me (single cell but let me say in english what I want then give me the formula) - do more complex things like "add another week" (1) insert new column (2) copy all formulas (3) adjust the fixed date - Explain a sheet / formula / section - Help me understand where this value comes from - do large scale formatting adjustments/alignments - find discrepancies / inconsistencies

Your requirement is to be able to automatically add rows (add corresponding formulas to calculate the corresponding data) or filter data through AI, which may allow AI to create a new data (automatically generate corresponding rows and make the data simpler)

Re: Ask HN: Cursor-like AI tool for Excel power users

#6

Post by radanskoric » Sat, May 17, 2025, 2:05 PM UTC

Cilvic wrote: post #3

radanskoric wrote: post #2

Interesting, can you share a bit more regarding what you tried with Gemini/MS Copilot and how it failed? If there isn't a "real" tool out there, collecting use cases would help anyone thinking about creating it.

- write formulas for me (single cell but let me say in english what I want then give me the formula) - do more complex things like "add another week" (1) insert new column (2) copy all formulas (3) adjust the fixed date - Explain a sheet / formula / section - Help me understand where this value comes from - do large scale formatting adjustments/alignments - find discrepancies / inconsistencies

Interesting. I've not used it but this sounds like the tools that were exposed to it need improvement. Everything you describe seems like it should be mostly in reach of current larger models.

Re: Ask HN: Cursor-like AI tool for Excel power users

#7

Post by rooty_ship » Tue, May 20, 2025, 12:44 AM UTC

I have seen some tools for statistical analysis and formula generation in Excel, and they are free of charge