Using AI to Build, Automate, and Analyze Excel Spreadsheets (Bootcamp + Certificate)

Important note: This training may demonstrate AI tools that are not approved for use with Stanford data. Inclusion in this program does not imply institutional approval. Participants should refrain from entering Stanford data into unapproved tools. An up-to-date list of approved and reviewed tools is available on the GenAI Evaluation Matrix page at https://uit.stanford.edu/ai/genai-tool-matrix.

Before each live online session, Tech Training will provide a Zoom link for live online classes, along with any required class materials.

Explore Excel and AI together, from fundamentals and formulas to charts and automated reporting. Discover how AI tools can write formulas, clean messy data, design visuals, and generate insights on demand.

Program Description

Explore Excel and AI side by side, from navigation and formulas to charts and automated reporting. This hands-on bootcamp shows how AI tools like AI Playground, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot can generate formulas, clean data, design visuals, and surface insights on demand. Spread across four focused sessions, this program offers a practical, progressive introduction to pairing Excel with AI for everyday professional tasks. Participants will have the opportunity to work with real data, experiment with natural language prompting, and discover how AI can handle the technical heavy lifting so you can focus on analysis and decision-making.

Learning Objectives

Learners will have the opportunity to:

1. Explore the Excel interface, workbook structure, and essential navigation with AI as a real-time tutor
2. Build and understand core formulas and functions (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, IF, VLOOKUP, SUMIF, and more) using AI assistance
3. Generate complex formulas by describing what you need in plain English
4. Experience how AI diagnoses formula errors, suggests fixes, and optimizes inefficient calculations
5. Build and format all major chart types with AI recommendations for visualization and design
6. Create executive dashboards and data narratives with AI-generated insights and summaries
7. Clean and prepare messy datasets using AI-powered diagnosis and automated workflows
8. Explore AI-written scripts for report automation without any coding experience
9. Discover best practices for professional spreadsheet organization, reporting, and data storytelling

Topic Outline

Topics:

Session 1: Excel Fundamentals with AI Assistance
- Excel interface navigation and terminology
- Workbook and worksheet management
- Cell references and basic data entry
- Cell formatting (numbers, dates, text) with AI-generated style recommendations
- Basic formulas and functions (SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, MIN, MAX)
- Relative vs. absolute cell references
- Generating formulas from plain-English descriptions
- Data organization best practices with AI-powered error checking

Session 2: Advanced Formulas and Functions with AI
- IF, AND, and OR logical functions
- Nested IF statements with AI-generated conditional logic
- VLOOKUP and XLOOKUP fundamentals
- INDEX and MATCH combinations
- SUMIF, SUMIFS, COUNTIF, COUNTIFS, and AVERAGEIF
- Date and time calculations
- Natural language to complex formula conversion
- AI diagnosis and optimization of formula errors
- Array formulas and named ranges for cleaner workbooks

Session 3: Data Visualization and Charts with AI
- Major chart types and when to use each (column, bar, line, pie, scatter)
- Chart anatomy and formatting (axes, legends, titles, data labels)
- AI recommendations for chart type selection
- AI-generated color palettes, titles, and annotations
- Combination charts and secondary axes
- Sparklines and chart templates for consistency
- Automatic trend analysis and forecasting with AI
- Multi-chart dashboards with AI-generated insights and narrative summaries
- AI-written VBA scripts for chart automation

Session 4: Data Cleanup and Automated Reporting with AI
- Understanding data structure and quality
- Sorting, filtering, removing duplicates, and text parsing
- AI-generated formulas to standardize and clean messy data
- Pivot table fundamentals and grouping with AI guidance
- SUMIF, COUNTIF, and AVERAGEIF for advanced analysis
- Conditional formatting with AI-surfaced patterns and outliers
- Reusable report templates and formula-driven updates
- AI-written VBA code for report automation
- Complete workflow: raw data to polished report using the full AI pipeline

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 within the same team or department, 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.