Excel's Copilot function is headed for the Recycle Bin

Microsoft plans to discontinue its Excel Copilot() function on September 14, 2026, just a year after its preview launch. Copilot(), initially introduced in August 2025, allowed users to send AI assistant instructions directly from worksheet cells. Available first to Beta Channel users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and later through the Frontier program for Excel for the web, the function was set to become generally available in 2027 before its cancellation.

Microsoft has opted to streamline the Copilot experience within Excel, retaining the feature through the Copilot side pane, which includes functionalities like summarizing text, classifying data, generating content, and retrieving information from the web. The decision to discontinue Copilot() came as Microsoft aimed to enhance the AI assistant's consistency across its productivity applications.

The company emphasized that users should review and validate Copilot's output for accuracy, especially in critical business contexts. Despite the inconvenience, Microsoft apologized for the change, noting its intent to provide AI assistance through a supported interface. Users can now continue leveraging Copilot in Excel via the side pane but will need to adjust their formulas for any reliance on the now-defunct Copilot() function.