Last week I explored the Boston Crime Statistics dataset (~260,000 rows) using Excel Agent Mode, which lives within Excel. This week I revisited the same dataset with the same question using Microsoft’s M365 Analyst Agent – it is a completely different experience.
Both tools analyze data and generate insights, but they differ in how you interact with them and how they talk, and show their work. One keeps you grounded in the familiar grid of Excel; the other lifts you into a conversational workspace (real Conversational Data Analytics) that feels more like working with a colleague than a formula bar.
What are they?
Excel Agent Mode (part of the Frontier experience and Excel Labs Frontier) sits directly inside Excel. You type natural-language prompts into a sidebar, and it runs analysis right inside your workbook – creating tables, formulas, charts, and summaries you can audit. It shows every step of the process.
M365 Analyst Agent, on the other hand, is more of an AI analyst integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Instead of working cell-by-cell, you hold a natural conversation: “Please summarize these statistics and help me understand and predict future occurrences.” or “Based on this data what recommendations do you have?” – the same prompts I used with Excel Agent Mode. The Analyst agent retrieves, analyzes, and explains results, then produces an analysis, visualizations and recommendations you can refine through follow-up questions.
In short (the TL;DR):
- Excel Agent Mode = embedded, visible, auditable.
- M365 Analyst Agent = conversational, cross-app, contextual.
What does it mean from a business perspective?
It’s no surprise that given the interface and way of working with the two approaches that it’s a contrast.
- Transparency vs. Abstraction: Excel Agent Mode gives you visibility into formulas, tables, and logic. You can audit the results. The M365 Analyst Agent abstracts those details into a dialogue, prioritizing speed and interpretation over the mechanics. Both are powerful – but likely suitable for different compliance cultures.
- Hands-On vs. Conversational Workflows: The Excel Agent rewards people who like to see how the analysis happens. The Analyst Agent suits leaders who want to talk through insights and get executive-level summaries fast.
- Governance and Auditability: Because the Excel Agent logs its operations directly in cells, it provides traceability. The Analyst Agent’s conversational mode may need extra documentation for decision trails – e.g. copy/paste the output from the analysis.
- Adoption Path: Excel Agent is a natural first step for business analysts and power users. The M365 Analyst Agent seems to represent the next stage – conversational data analytics.
What do I do with it?
There are a few concrete steps to take – including building confidence in the output.
- Pilot Both, Side-by-Side: Run a comparative test on a dataset your team knows. You could even time how long each takes to generate accurate insights, and compare the audit trail, user experience, and business value.
- Choose by Use Case: Use Excel Agent for structured analysis, forecasting, or QA where traceability matters. Use M365 Analyst Agent for briefings, scenario discussions, or quick synthesis across files.
- Respect Data Provenance: Treat the Analyst Agent as an “insight generator,” not a data warehouse.
- Train Teams Differently: Analysts need to learn prompt-plus-formula hybrid skills for the Excel Agent; managers benefit from prompt-plus-interpretation coaching for Analyst Agent.
- Track Efficiency & Confidence: Measure time saved, report accuracy, and user trust. The best tool is the one your people actually use, and can defend it’s results and analysis.
Both of these tools reveal a direction that we are moving in – where we have conversations with our data. When used together, they represent the next evolution in business analytics – both visible where it matters and conversational when needed.