Excel Formulas & AI: Automate Your Analysis (AI-Powered Excel Bootcamp Series)

Code	Date	Delivery	Cost
ITS-1536	Tue Apr 7, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm	In-person (Stanford Campus) : 1 session Ventura Hall (Room 1)	$300

This class offers an option for in-classroom sessions. Participants attending an in-person class will need to adhere to the respiratory illness policies.

Go beyond basic formulas and explore Excel's powerful functions with AI models doing the heavy lifting. Use VLOOKUP, IF statements, nested functions, and advanced calculations while AI models generate complex formulas from plain-English descriptions.

Program Description

Move beyond basic formulas to explore Excel's most powerful functions - with AI doing the heavy lifting. Discover VLOOKUP, IF statements, nested functions, and advanced calculations while exploring how AI can write complex formulas instantly based on your description. Stop Googling Excel syntax and start describing what you need in plain English. Perfect for anyone who needs to analyze data but doesn't want to become a formula expert.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives:
- Work with essential Excel functions (IF, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, SUMIF, COUNTIF)
- Build complex nested formulas with AI assistance
- Experience AI debugging and optimization of existing formulas
- Understand when to use specific functions vs. when to let AI decide
- Generate custom formulas for unique business scenarios
- Troubleshoot formula errors using AI diagnosis

Topic Outline

Module Breakdown:

Module 1: Logical Functions + AI Formula Writing
- IF, AND, OR functions
- Nested IF statements
- AI Integration: "If sales > 1000 and region = West, calculate 10% bonus"
- AI writes the nested IF formula instantly
- Hands-on: Complex conditional logic using AI-generated formulas

Module 2: Lookup Functions + AI Alternatives
- VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP fundamentals
- INDEX and MATCH combinations
- Common lookup errors and solutions
- AI Integration: Describe the lookup scenario, AI writes the formula
- AI suggests best lookup method for your specific situation
- Hands-on: Build product pricing lookup with AI guidance

Module 3: Advanced Functions + AI Formula Builder
- SUMIF, SUMIFS, COUNTIF, COUNTIFS
- AVERAGEIF and statistical functions
- Date and time calculations
- AI Integration: Natural language to complex formulas
- "Sum sales where date is last quarter and amount exceeds $500"
- Hands-on: Create sales analysis dashboard using AI-generated formulas

Module 4: Formula Optimization + AI Debugging
- Array formulas and dynamic ranges
- Named ranges for cleaner formulas
- Formula auditing and error checking
- AI Integration: AI diagnoses formula errors and suggests fixes
- AI optimizes slow or inefficient formulas
- AI converts complex formulas into easy-to-understand explanations
- Hands-on: Fix broken formulas and optimize performance with AI

Custom training workshops are available for this program

Technology training sessions structured around individual or group learning objectives. Learn more about custom training.

Special Group Rates

For groups of 5 or more, special rates are available. Please contact techtraining@stanford.edu for more details.

University IT Technology Training sessions are available to a wide range of participants, including Stanford University staff, faculty, students, and employees of Stanford Hospitals & Clinics, such as Stanford Health Care, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, Stanford Medicine Partners, and Stanford Medicine Children's Health.

Additionally, some of these programs are open to interested individuals not affiliated with Stanford, allowing for broader community engagement and learning opportunities.