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  "path": "/article/4131504/gemini-supercharge-google-sheets-spreadsheets.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-18T10:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.computerworld.com",
  "tags": [
    "Artificial Intelligence, Collaboration Software, Generative AI, Google Sheets, Google Workspace, Office Suites, Productivity Software",
    "Business Standard, Business Plus, or Enterprise plan",
    "Google AI plan",
    "Google Workspace Labs",
    "Google Sheets cheat sheet",
    "simply make things up",
    "Gemini sidebar",
    "Dropdown lists",
    "Filter",
    "Pivot tables",
    "Google Sheets cheat sheet: How to get started",
    "6 quick tips for Google Sheets",
    "Google Workspace: 7 great ways to use the Gemini AI sidebar",
    "Google Sheets power tips: How to use filters and slicers",
    "Google Sheets power tips: How to use pivot tables",
    "How to use Google Sheets for project management",
    "How to use smart chips in Google Docs and Sheets",
    "4 advanced ‘smart chip’ tips for Google Docs and Sheets",
    "Google Workspace power tips: Tap into cross-app productivity",
    "More Google Workspace tips and tutorials"
  ],
  "textContent": "Google’s AI assistant, Gemini, can assist you in several ways in Google Sheets, from analyzing your data to helping you edit your spreadsheet faster. In Google Sheets, you mostly use these genAI tools through the Gemini sidebar. But you can also trigger Gemini to take action through a formula inside a cell. It also automatically performs actions in the background to provide suggestions.\n\nTo use Gemini within Google Sheets, you need to be subscribed to a Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, or Enterprise plan or a Google AI plan. Alternatively, you can sign up for Google Workspace Labs with a free Google account.\n\n**Note:** If you use Google Workspace at work, your administrator may need to enable permission for Gemini to be used in Google Sheets.\n\nThis quick guide will go over the major ways you can use Gemini in Google Sheets. If you’re new to Google Sheets or need a refresher, see our Google Sheets cheat sheet first to get up and running.\n\n#### **In this article:**\n\n  1. Generate analyses, insights, or summaries\n  2. Generate charts, graphs, or other data visualizations\n  3. Generate formulas\n  4. Quickly edit or format your spreadsheet\n  5. Use a formula inside a cell to prompt Gemini\n  6. Use Enhanced Smart Fill (or turn it off)\n\n\n\nAs when using any generative AI tool, remember that Gemini can make mistakes or simply make things up, so you should always check its output for accuracy.\n\n## Start in the Gemini sidebar\n\nFrom the Gemini sidebar, you can prompt Gemini to take several actions on your spreadsheet, such as adding information to it, providing analysis about it, or even editing it for you.\n\nIn the top-right corner of Google Sheets, click the _Gemini_ icon, a nova star located between the Share button and your Google user account pic. The Gemini sidebar will open to the right of your spreadsheet.\n\nNow that you have it opened, you can type prompts inside the text box on the sidebar, triggering Gemini to take actions on your spreadsheet.\n\nClick the nova star icon at upper right to open the Gemini sidebar.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nAs a reminder: You can always enter more prompts to follow up on something that Gemini generated. Examples include:\n\n  * Ask a question about something specific in an analysis that it generated.\n  * Tell it to generate a visualization from its analysis.\n  * Tell it to explain how a formula that it generated works.\n\n\n\n**Tip:** Gemini’s responses are often long, but you can drag the left edge of the sidebar to make it wider and reduce the need to scroll.\n\nThe first four tips below summarize the major things Gemini can do to your spreadsheet from its sidebar.\n\n## 1. Generate analyses, insights, or summaries\n\nGemini can extract deep data analyses, insights, or trends from your spreadsheet.\n\nOptionally, select the cells that you want Gemini to analyze. This is suggested so that Gemini can give you a more accurate and faster result, especially if your spreadsheet contains a lot of data. Click a table, column, or row, or highlight a cell range.\n\nNext, enter your prompt. Examples:\n\n  * **Anomalies or outliers:** _Find any anomalies or outliers in the “Inventory Amount” column for “Product A” row._\n  * **Correlations:** _Find any correlation between the “Travel” column and the “Total Revenue” column._\n  * **Predictions:** _Predict the net income for the next quarter based on the data in the “Quarter 2” tab._\n  * **Summaries or takeaways:** _What are the three key takeaways from this survey data?_\n\n\n\nGemini will generate a result that appears in the Gemini sidebar.\n\nYou can ask Gemini to identify key takeaways from your spreadsheet data.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nAdditionally, you can have Gemini generate a summary of related material from a source outside your spreadsheet, such as a document in your Google Drive or an email thread in your Gmail:\n\n  * **Google Drive document:** _Summarize the takeaways from the “Q4 Sales 2026” Google Doc in my Drive._\n  * **Gmail thread:** _List the action items from my recent email thread with Scot Davenport about “New Client Onboarding Steps.”_\n\n\n\nGemini can summarize email threads or documents related to your spreadsheet.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\n### **Adding or saving Gemini’s result**\n\nClick _Insert_ to insert the result on your spreadsheet where your cursor is, _Copy_ to copy the generated text to your PC clipboard, or _Export to Docs_ to save the result as a new document in your Google Drive. You’ll be able to open it in Google Docs.\n\nYou can click the _Analysis steps_ link that appears above the result to see the steps Gemini took to arrive at its result. There may also be a _Sources_ link below the result. Clicking this will show you the specific files or email threads Gemini used to generate this result.\n\nGemini lists the source(s) it used to generate a result.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\n## 2. Generate charts, graphs, or other data visualizations\n\nChart creation works best if the data on your spreadsheet has headers for each column or row, such as “Expenses,” “Month,” “Sales,” etc. (This rule also applies if you use the standard way to create a chart in Google Sheets, by selecting _Insert > Chart_ on the menu bar above your spreadsheet.)\n\nYour prompt should name the type of chart you want (pie chart, bar chart, etc.), as well as the headers of the columns and rows that you want in it. But don’t be afraid to just ask Gemini to generate a chart from your data without naming headers as an experiment to see what the result might be.\n\nPrompt examples:\n\n  * **Bar chart (comparison chart):** _Generate a bar chart that compares Weekly Sales and Product Categories._\n  * **Complex analysis:** _Build a stacked column chart that shows Quarterly Profit by Product Category._\n  * **Line Chart:** _Create a line chart with the Date on the X-axis and Sales on the Y-axis._\n  * **Pie chart (distribution chart):** _Show me a pie chart of the percentage share of Budget by Items._\n  * **Trend:** _Identify the key trends in sales so far this year._\n\n\n\nGemini will generate a result that appears in the Gemini sidebar.\n\nDescribe the chart you want Gemini to create, and it will appear in the sidebar.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nYou can enter more prompts to trigger Gemini to refine the chart. Examples could include telling it to change the chart type or rename a label in the chart, adding a trend line, or using only the data from certain columns and rows.\n\n### **Adding or saving Gemini’s result**\n\nClick the _Preview_ button at the bottom of the chart card to see a larger preview of the chart in a panel over your spreadsheet, and if you like what you see, click the panel’s _Insert_ button to add the chart. Or you can skip the preview step and just click _Insert_ below the chart in the sidebar. Either way, a new tab will be added to your spreadsheet with the chart that Gemini generated on it. (For some users, the chart may instead be added to the current tab.)\n\n## 3. Generate formulas\n\nGemini can generate a formula and insert it into a cell. Prompt examples:\n\n  * _Create a formula that averages the values for columns A2 and A6._\n  * _Generate a formula that adds 7 business days to the dates in the “Deadline” column._\n\n\n\nGemini will generate a result that appears in its sidebar along with the steps it took to arrive at the result. Sometimes it may even set up a new column or row and insert the formula into the cells; you can undo this action if you want.\n\nColumn J contains results based on the generated formula.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nIf you don’t understand how a formula works, just ask Gemini to explain it as your next prompt.\n\n### **Adding or saving Gemini’s result**\n\nClick _Insert_ to set the generated formula or calculated result in the cell where your cursor is, or click _Copy_ to copy it to your clipboard.\n\n## 4. Quickly edit or format your spreadsheet\n\nGemini can add elements to your spreadsheet or help you edit it. Prompt examples:\n\n  * **Add columns or rows:**_Add a new column with the heading “Expenses”._\n  * **Checkboxes:** _Insert checkboxes in the column H1._\n  * **Conditional formatting:** _Highlight all Sellers in red whose Total Sales are less than $200._\n  * **Convert to title case:** _Convert all the text in the column “Job Titles” to title case._\n  * Dropdown lists**:** _Add a dropdown to the cells in the “Status” column with options: “Awaiting,” “In Progress,” “Done”._\n  * **Extract:** _Extract the ZIP codes from the “Address” column and put them in the “ZIP Codes” column._\n  * Filter**:** _Apply a filter to show rows where the “Progress” is “Done”._\n  * **Freeze rows/columns:**_Freeze the first four rows and the third and sixth columns._\n  * Pivot tables**:** _Create a pivot table showing the average sale amount by “Person” and “Product.”_\n  * **Remove extra spacing:**_Remove any extra spacing in this sheet._\n  * **Sort:** _Sort the entire sheet by the “Sales Figures” column, from largest to smallest number._\n  * **Multi-step command:** _Sort the data by “Employee”. Freeze the header row. Highlight the cells in the “Sales” column that are above 100._\n\n\n\nGemini will immediately apply your requested changes to your spreadsheet, and list in the sidebar the steps it took to do so.\n\nGemini can apply conditional formatting in an instant.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nIf the changes do not give you the results that you want, simply click the _Undo_ button in the Gemini sidebar.\n\nFor certain actions such as conditional formatting or pivot tables, a _Settings_ button may appear in the Gemini sidebar after the action is applied. Clicking this will open the Google Sheets settings panel for that feature so that you can make adjustments.\n\nGemini will often suggest additional prompts below the current result, such as creating a chart or asking a question about the data. Click any prompt, and Gemini will generate a response to it.\n\n## 5. Use a formula inside a cell to prompt Gemini\n\nYou can use a formula in a cell to trigger Gemini to generate content in that cell that references data in another cell or cell range. You can use this formula to categorize text in cells or even write emails. You can also apply this function across multiple rows.\n\nThe format for this formula is:\n\n\n    =AI(\"_YOUR PROMPT_ \", _REFERENCE CELL OR CELL RANGE_)\n\n  * _YOUR PROMPT_ is your prompt telling Gemini what you want it to do.\n  * _REFERENCE CELL OR CELL RANGE_ is the cell(s) containing the data you want Gemini to reference with your prompt.\n\n\n\nExamples:\n\n  * **Draft emails:** _=AI(“Write a concise, professional email opening line to the person in A2, referencing their industry in B2”, A2:B2)_\n  * **Extract data:** _=AI(“Extract only the 5-digit zip code from the address”, B2)_\n  * **Fix text:** _=AI(“Apply proper capitalization, and remove extra spaces from the name in”, B2)_\n  * **Standardize dates:** _=AI(“Standardize the date in B2 to YYYY-MM-DD format”, B2)_\n  * **Categorize information:** _=AI(“categorize amount greater than 80 as ‘Glorious’ and below 80 as ‘Must Improve’, H5”)_\n\n\n\nWhen you’ve finished typing your formula, press the Enter key. Gemini will process your prompt and generate a result. The result will be inserted into the cell.\n\nThe rightmost column shows the result of an AI prompt formula (shown in the formula bar at the top).\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nIf the data in the reference cell / range is changed, the formula result won’t automatically be updated, but you can select the cell that contains the formula and click the _Refresh and insert_ button that appears to update it.****\n\n### **Applying your Gemini formula to other cells**\n\nYou can apply this Gemini formula in the cell to the other cells on the rows below it. First, make sure your spreadsheet data is formatted as a table. If it’s not, select all the cells containing data and click _Format > Convert to table_ from the top menu bar.\n\nClick the cell that contains the formula. Then click on the bottom-right corner of the cell (you may see a + sign appear) and drag down to apply the formula to the cells below. Gemini will automatically run the prompt inside these cells, referencing the data from each row that they’re on.\n\nThe formula is now copied into all the rows in the rightmost column.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\n## 6. Use Enhanced Smart Fill (or turn it off)\n\nThe Smart Fill feature in Google Sheets is an automation tool that assists you as you work on your spreadsheet. It’s been enhanced to use Gemini to detect patterns in your data. As you enter data in cells, it may offer to fill out subsequent cells for you.\n\nFor example: After you finish entering values into a few rows, Smart Fill may suggest that it automatically add more rows for you, and supply the values for those cells. This suggestion may be triggered after you do the same task to your spreadsheet three or more times.\n\nSmart Fill can suggest autofill values based on Gemini’s analysis of the data you’ve already entered.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nOther Smart Fill behaviors:\n\n  * **Categorizing:** Analyzing the text in the cells of a column and filling in the cells of an adjacent column with corresponding category names.\n  * **Extracting:** Extracting the ZIP codes from the addresses listed in a column and inserting them into a new column.\n  * **Standardizing:** Converting values in a column that have been entered in inconsistent formats. For example, it can offer to convert both “sept 1st, 2026” and “9/6/26” into a uniform “YYYY-MM-DD” format.\n\n\n\nA Smart Fill suggestion appears as a faded outline or a bubble showing its predicted range of values. If you want to accept the suggestion, click the outline or checkmark on the Auto Fill notice card. If you don’t want to accept, click the X icon on this card.\n\n### **Turning Enhanced Smart Fill off or on**\n\nIf you find that these Smart Fill suggestions get in your way as you work on your spreadsheet, or simply don’t work well for you, you can turn off the feature.\n\nTurning off Enhanced Smart Fill.\n\nHoward Wen / Foundry\n\nOn the menu bar above your spreadsheet, select _Tools > Suggestion controls > Enable enhanced Smart Fill suggestions_ to uncheck it. Select it again to turn it back on (the checkmark reappears).\n\n**Note:** Turning off Enhanced Smart Fill does not disable the basic Smart Fill feature, which doesn’t use Gemini. It uses simpler logic to suggest sequential numbering or extracting text.\n\n#### **Related reading:**\n\n  * Google Sheets cheat sheet: How to get started\n  * 6 quick tips for Google Sheets\n  * Google Workspace: 7 great ways to use the Gemini AI sidebar\n  * Google Sheets power tips: How to use filters and slicers\n  * Google Sheets power tips: How to use pivot tables\n  * How to use Google Sheets for project management\n  * How to use smart chips in Google Docs and Sheets\n  * 4 advanced ‘smart chip’ tips for Google Docs and Sheets\n  * Google Workspace power tips: Tap into cross-app productivity\n  * More Google Workspace tips and tutorials\n\n",
  "title": "6 ways Gemini supercharges Google Sheets"
}