The AI map · Building with AI

Spreadsheets, data and internal tools

AI that builds and explains spreadsheets, analyses data, and builds internal apps and databases a team runs on. The ones that lead it as of 29 October 2026.

  1. Claude for Excel

    Anthropic

    Claude inside Excel (and Word, PowerPoint, Outlook): ask about any cell, change assumptions without breaking formulas, build models from scratch.

    Pick it Choose it for financial models and multi-tab workbooks where you want to see every edited cell highlighted.

    Price Included with Claude Pro ($20 a month) and above

    Source: claude.com

  2. Copilot in Excel New since July

    Microsoft

    Microsoft's AI in Excel: prepares data, learns repeatable tasks as skills, and turns a workbook into an interactive report.

    Pick it Choose it when your company already runs on Microsoft 365.

    Price Included in Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 a month (US price)

    Source: microsoft.com

  3. Gemini in Google Sheets New since July

    Google

    Writes and fixes formulas, finds trends, fills cells from the web with cited sources, and turns sheets into mini-apps.

    Pick it Choose it when your team works in Google Workspace.

    Price Some features in free Sheets; Gemini across Workspace apps comes with Business Standard and above

    In India Workspace is priced in rupees in India: Business Standard ₹864 per user a month introductory, ₹1,080 list.

    Source: workspace.google.com

  4. Julius

    Julius AI

    Upload data and ask questions in plain words to get analysis, charts and reports.

    Pick it Choose it for quick analysis of a CSV or spreadsheet without writing code.

    Price Free tier; Plus $20 a month ($16 billed annually); Pro $45 a month

    Source: julius.ai

  5. Hex New since July

    Hex

    A data workspace where analysts and agents query, model and publish analysis together, with review of agent-written code.

    Pick it Choose it for a data team that wants governed, shareable analysis on top of a warehouse.

    Price Free Community plan; Professional $36 per editor a month

    Source: hex.tech

  6. Retool

    Retool

    Builds internal apps, workflows and agents on top of your own databases and APIs.

    Pick it Choose it for internal tools that must connect to production data with access controls.

    Price Free; Team $10 per builder a month plus $5 per internal user

    Source: retool.com

  7. Notion New since July

    Notion

    Docs and databases with Notion Agent and Custom Agents that fill databases, run tasks and connect to 150+ tools.

    Pick it Choose it when the team's knowledge and trackers already live in Notion.

    Price Free; Plus $10 a month; Business $20 a month includes Notion Agent

    Source: notion.com

What changed

  1. 27 Oct 2026 Hex released Hex 4.0, rebuilt for analysts and AI agents working together, with a $100 million raise. hex.tech
  2. 20 Oct 2026 Fill with Gemini in Google Sheets began citing its web source in each cell it fills. workspaceupdates.googleblog.com
  3. 19 Oct 2026 Notion rebuilt its agents with their own computer and browser, and let ChatGPT Plus, Pro or Go plans pay for AI in Notion. notion.com
  4. 13 Oct 2026 Notion 3.8 let outside agents connect to a workspace through MCP and let Notion Agents use 150+ tools. notion.com
  5. 12 Oct 2026 Copilot in Excel gained an interactive canvas for reports and a skill builder and recorder that turn a recurring task into a reusable skill. techcommunity.microsoft.com

Questions people ask about it

Databases & Internal Tools

  1. Why use AI to build databases and internal dashboards instead of buying SaaS?
  2. How do founders build CRMs, trackers, and admin panels with AI tools?
  3. What's the fastest path from spreadsheet chaos to a working internal tool?
  4. Which AI app builder should I use for internal tools: Lovable, Bolt, Replit, v0, Retool, or Glide?
  5. What database should sit under my AI-built internal tool: Supabase, Airtable, Postgres, or a spreadsheet?
  6. How can my team ask questions of our data in plain English instead of writing SQL?

Data Analysis

  1. Why let AI analyze my data instead of learning Excel formulas or SQL?
  2. How do founders get insights from CSVs, analytics, and surveys using AI?
  3. What can AI-in-spreadsheets (Claude in Excel, Gemini in Sheets) actually do?
  4. Which AI tool should I use for data analysis: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or a dedicated tool?
  5. Can AI write SQL for me and query my database in plain English?
  6. How do I know the numbers AI gives me are actually right?

The rest of the map

Checked 29 October 2026. Prices and rankings move every few months; each tool links the page its claims were read from.

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