Google has introduced a significant update to Google Sheets, bringing the power of its Gemini artificial intelligence assistant directly into one of its most widely used productivity tools. The Alphabet-owned company announced that Gemini can now handle complex, multi-step spreadsheet tasks automatically, transforming how users work with data and formatting.
Smarter automation for everyday tasks
With the latest update, Google Sheets users can describe a task in simple language, and Gemini will carry it out from start to finish. This includes tasks such as formatting, data cleaning, and structural edits — all executed in a single command. The AI-powered agent supports an expanding range of actions, including data manipulation, filtering, and structure editing, delivering speed and accuracy in everyday workflows.
This marks a significant evolution in Google Workspace’s AI integration, which has already enhanced Google Docs and Gmail with smart writing and summarising tools. By extending similar capabilities to Sheets, Google aims to simplify repetitive data-related work and improve efficiency across industries.
Professionals such as project managers, financial analysts, and educators — who often rely on spreadsheets for large volumes of data — stand to gain the most from this update. Even casual users can benefit by reducing the time spent adjusting layouts and cleaning data, allowing more focus on analysis and decision-making.
Interestingly, Google’s move comes as rival AI tools like Claude have demonstrated similar abilities, including editing Excel files without directly opening them. The addition of Gemini to Google Sheets, therefore, reinforces Google’s commitment to maintaining a competitive edge in the productivity AI space.
Designed to save time and boost productivity
For users who regularly manage extensive datasets with hundreds of rows and multiple columns, Gemini’s new feature offers a significant time-saving advantage. For example, an editor tracking writer performance can ask Gemini to remove empty rows, sort entries by time, add a new column to mark important stories, and freeze the header row — all through a straightforward prompt in the Gemini sidebar. The assistant then completes the task within seconds.
By eliminating the need for multiple manual steps, Google’s Gemini turns routine spreadsheet management into a seamless experience. The update reflects the company’s broader mission to integrate intuitive AI tools into its ecosystem, helping users focus on creative and strategic work rather than mechanical data handling.
Availability and access
However, the enhanced Gemini experience is currently limited to paying subscribers. The multi-step editing capability in Google Sheets is available only to users with Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, or Google AI Pro for Education plans. Those using the free version of Google Sheets will need to wait for a wider rollout or upgrade to access the new functionality.
As Google continues refining Gemini across its Workspace applications, this update represents a major step towards a more intelligent and automated future of office productivity.
