Microsoft Brings Power BI, Enterprise Data Into Excel Copilot

Microsoft is tightening the link between Excel, its dominant spreadsheet software, and Power BI, the company’s governed business-intelligence platform. Corporate analysts have often had to export reports, copy figures and reconcile them manually before working in Excel. Extending Copilot to enterprise systems is meant to collapse that workflow: employees can query trusted business information in natural language and use Excel’s analytical engine without weakening the permissions and governance attached to the source data.

Microsoft announced the Excel update on July 28, 2026, for Windows, Mac and the web. Users can attach a Power BI report through the work content picker, then ask Copilot to assess operating performance, identify trends, and create summaries or supporting calculations. Synced Copilot connectors are now generally available for content including work items, CRM records, database rows and documents. Answers add inline citations, while Power BI analysis retains existing permissions and row-level security; the Power BI grounding feature is rolling out to production customers.