Google has built its Gemini AI into Google Sheets. You can ask for a formula in plain English, get a table created for you, find trends in your data, and even use AI inside cells to summarize or sort text. Here’s how to use it.
Do you have it?
Gemini in Sheets comes with many Google Workspace business plans and with Google AI subscriptions for personal accounts. Look for the Gemini (sparkle) icon at the top right of Google Sheets. If you don’t see it, your plan or your admin’s settings may not include it yet. Features roll out over time, so names and menus may differ slightly.
1. Open the Gemini side panel
Click the Gemini icon to open a chat panel next to your sheet. Gemini can “see” the data in your current sheet, so you can ask questions about it directly.
2. Get formulas in plain English
“Write a formula to total column D only for rows where column C is ‘North’.”
Gemini suggests a formula (like =SUMIF(C:C,"North",D:D)) and explains it. Also try:
- “Why does this formula return #N/A?”
- “Explain the formula in E2 step by step.”
- “Calculate the number of working days between B2 and C2 with a Friday–Saturday weekend.”
Keep our Google Sheets formulas cheat sheet handy to check the answers.
3. Create tables and templates
“Create a table to track job applicants with columns for name, role, date applied, stage and next step.”
Gemini builds the structure and sample rows. Then add drop-downs and formatting yourself, or start from one of our free templates.
4. Analyze your data
- “What are the top 3 trends in this sales data?”
- “Which region had the biggest drop compared to last month?”
- “Create a chart of monthly sales by region.”
- “Make a pivot table of total sales by salesperson.”
Always double-check important numbers yourself. See how to analyze spreadsheet data with AI.
5. Use AI inside cells
Google Sheets has an AI function that runs a prompt on each row:
=AI("Summarize this customer review in 5 words", A2)Copy it down the column to process many rows. Great uses:
| Task | Example prompt |
|---|---|
| Categorize | =AI("Classify as Complaint, Question or Praise", A2) |
| Summarize | =AI("Summarize in one sentence", A2) |
| Extract | =AI("Extract the product name mentioned", A2) |
| Rewrite | =AI("Rewrite as a polite reply", A2) |
| Sentiment | =AI("Positive, neutral or negative?", A2) |
There are limits on how many cells you can process at once, and results can vary, so spot-check a sample.
Tips for better results
- Clean headers help Gemini understand your data: “Order date,” not “Col1.” See cleaning messy data.
- Be specific about columns, conditions and the result you want.
- Check formulas on a few rows before copying them down.
- Privacy: follow your company’s rules for customer and personal data.
Using Excel instead?
Microsoft’s equivalent is Copilot. See Copilot in Excel.