Excel Will Never Be the Same Again after AI Copilot with Brian Jones
The FP&A Guy Network · 2026-03-31 · 17 min
Episode notes
In this episode of Financial Modeler’s Corner, host Paul Barnhurst sits down with Brian Jones to explore how Excel is evolving in the era of AI and large language models. They discuss how Copilot, agent mode, and AI-driven capabilities are transforming the way users build, analyse, and improve spreadsheets. Brian shares insights into how Excel is becoming more like a developer tool and how AI can automate repetitive tasks while enhancing productivity for both beginners and advanced users. Brian Jones is the Vice President of Microsoft Excel, Forms, and Office Platforms. He has been with Microsoft since 1999, working across multiple productivity products, including Word, Office Forms, and developer extensibility tools. In his current role, Brian leads a global team responsible for Excel and related platforms, driving innovation and integrating AI capabilities like Copilot and agent mode into the product ecosystem.