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Microsoft has officially launched Python in Excel for select users, marking a major step forward for those seeking advanced analytics capabilities within the popular spreadsheet software. Announced in a blog post this week, the feature is now generally available to Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise subscribers on Windows, giving data analysts and Office power users the facility to run Python scripts directly within Excel workbooks.
Teased last year and released in public beta last month, the Python-Excel integration is expected to revolutionize how users conduct data analysis and automate tasks. “We believe there is a significant opportunity for anyone using Excel for analysis to greatly enhance their work with Python,” Microsoft stated, highlighting the potential for more efficient workflows and deeper insights.
One of the standout features of Python in Excel is its integration with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant. Users can now ask Copilot to write Python scripts using plain language commands, significantly lowering the barrier for those unfamiliar with coding. This language model-powered tool can build and execute custom Python functions within Excel, expanding the software’s functionality far beyond traditional spreadsheet capabilities.
Microsoft has partnered with Anaconda, a leading provider of data science tools, to streamline the integration. This collaboration allows for seamless data movement between Excel and Python, enabling users to leverage powerful Python libraries for statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization within Excel. Custom functions have been designed to ensure smooth transitions between the two platforms.
Despite its promise, Python in Excel is currently limited to Windows users with the appropriate licenses, leaving Mac and consumer-grade Microsoft 365 subscribers waiting for future expansions. Still, the feature is expected to gain traction quickly, as the demand for integrated data science tools continues to grow.