Google has rolled out new Gemini AI capabilities in Google Sheets, allowing users to generate charts and extract valuable insights directly within spreadsheets. The update makes it easier for users to visualize and analyze data without specialized skills.
New AI-Powered Features
Gemini in Sheets can now help users address various data analysis scenarios through simple prompts. The AI can:
- Provide valuable insights including trends, patterns, and correlations between variables
- Generate charts based on spreadsheet data that can be inserted as static images
- Transform user requests into Python code and execute multi-layered analysis without requiring coding skills
Practical Applications
The new Gemini in Sheets functionality supports various use cases:
- Marketing managers can ask "Provide some insights on my top 3 performing channels by conversion rate" to receive detailed breakdowns with visualizations
- Small business owners can request "Predict my net income for the next quarter based on historical data" to identify potential financial shortfalls
- Financial analysts can prompt "Identify any anomalies in inventory levels for Product X" to discover supply chain issues or unusual demand patterns
Technical Considerations
- For best results, data should have consistent formatting with clear headers and no missing values
- Specific prompts yield more accurate results from Gemini
- Performance is most consistent in files below 1 million cells
- Simpler data questions may still use formula-based answers rather than Python code
- Generated charts are static images that won't update automatically with data changes
- Charts cannot be modified after insertion; new charts must be generated for any changes
Availability
The feature is rolling out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains from January 29, 2025, with expected completion by February 20, 2025.
Available for Google Workspace:
- Business Standard and Plus
- Enterprise Standard and Plus
- Customers with Gemini Education or Gemini Education Premium add-on
- Google One AI Premium
- Previously purchased Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons
