Microsoft keeps expanding what Excel can do with AI. First came Copilot, then Agent Mode. At the same time, Copilot Studio and Agent Flows are entering the picture. The result is powerful but also confusing. Many people are trying to figure out what each tool is for and when to use it.
This post explains how to think about Agent Mode, how it compares with Copilot, and why both still matter. It also looks at where tools like Copilot Studio and Agent Flows fit into the broader Microsoft ecosystem for Excel users.
Copilot vs. Agent Mode
At first glance, Copilot and Agent Mode sound like two versions of the same thing. Both involve AI that interacts directly with Excel. In reality, they have very different design goals.
Copilot is a helper. It is designed for the small, piecemeal tasks that analysts perform every day. You might ask Copilot to clean up a dataset, write a complex formula, summarize a range, or create a quick chart. It provides targeted help within the context of the workbook you already have open.
Agent Mode is a builder. Instead of working cell by cell, it can take a broad instruction and generate a complete workbook. You might tell it to build a quarterly sales dashboard or create a forecasting model for next year. It can create sheets, link formulas, and even write explanations. It is far more autonomous and structured around end-to-end creation.
A simple comparison helps clarify the difference:
| Feature | Copilot | Agent Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Task assistance | Full workbook creation |
| Scope | One request at a time | Multi-step process |
| Strength | Works with existing files | Builds from scratch |
| User Role | Active collaborator | High-level supervisor |
| Best Used For | Quick help and debugging | Prototyping new reports or dashboards |
This distinction matters because it changes how you work with Excel. Copilot sits beside you while you work. Agent Mode takes your prompt, runs with it, and delivers a finished product.
Excel Copilot: When piecemeal still wins
It might sound like Agent Mode is the clear winner. After all, if it can build an entire model for you, why not use it all the time?
The reason comes down to how analysts actually work. Most of us are not starting from a blank sheet. We are maintaining workbooks that already exist. They might be forecasting models, KPI dashboards, or monthly reports that have evolved over years. They are usually mission-critical, connected to multiple data sources, and fragile in places.
In that context, incremental help is often safer and more realistic than full automation. You want a tool that can step in, understand what is there, and fix small issues without breaking the logic. Copilot handles this better right now. It can explain formulas, generate snippets, or reformat data without taking over the file.
Agent Mode, on the other hand, behaves like a blank-slate designer. It is better at starting fresh than at understanding what is already built. From what I have seen so far, it struggles when the goal is to repair or optimize an existing model “in flight.” It tries to interpret your workbook, but the context often gets lost.
Analysts know this feeling well. Sometimes it is easier to start over than to fix what is broken. That is exactly how Agent Mode currently operates. It builds something new rather than carefully weaving into the logic you already have.
The bigger picture: Copilot Studio and Agent Flows
There is also a broader shift happening in how analysts work. Excel is no longer the single destination for analysis. It is part of a much larger ecosystem.
Data now flows through Power BI, SharePoint, OneDrive, Dataverse, and external sources like SQL or Azure. Analysts collaborate in Teams or push reports through Power Automate. In that world, Agent Mode’s single-application focus stands out. It can do amazing things inside Excel but does not yet extend far beyond it.
That is why Copilot Studio and Agent Flows are such important developments. They bring the same agentic logic to the entire Microsoft 365 environment. Copilot Studio allows you to design and deploy your own custom agents that can move between apps. You can connect Excel to Outlook, Teams, or Power BI without writing a line of code.
Agent Flows take that one step further. They combine the logic of Power Automate with the intelligence of AI. Instead of following rigid “if this, then that” rules, an agent can interpret the situation and decide what to do next. It is automation that learns context rather than just repeating instructions.
Seeing the Layers
A helpful way to visualize this evolution is to think in terms of layers:
Each layer builds on the previous one. Copilot helps you perform tasks within Excel. Agent Mode automates the creation of a full workbook. Copilot Studio and Agent Flows orchestrate those agents across the broader Microsoft stack.
Practical takeaways
If you are curious about where to begin, start with Copilot in Excel. It remains the foundation for understanding how AI works inside your spreadsheets. You can take my LinkedIn Learning course on Copilot in Excel for free. The course focuses on practical, real-world examples that help you build confidence before exploring the more advanced agentic tools.
Once you are comfortable with Copilot, try Agent Mode. Test how it builds reports from scratch and see where it fits into your process. Use it not as a replacement but as a design partner that can show what is possible.
If your team is trying to make sense of all this, whether it’s how to integrate these tools into your existing workflow or how to train analysts for the next generation of AI-powered Excel, I am building training sessions and advisory resources around exactly that.
You can get in touch here to discuss what your organization is exploring, or connect with me on LinkedIn for new articles, sessions, and hands-on tutorials. I am still learning myself where the biggest opportunities for organizations lie, and your feedback helps shape that journey.