Testing The New Microsoft Excel Agent for Finance Pros with Ian and Giles

In this episode of the Mod Squad Pod, Paul Barnhurst, Ian Schnoor, and Giles Male discuss and test the new Excel Agent, a tool that uses AI to build models from written prompts. They share initial thoughts, emphasizing the importance of strong modeling skills as a foundation before using AI. They compare Excel Agent to Rosie AI, testing both on an Excel Esports case, and then move on to a more complex Excel case, "The Humble MVP," to further test the agent's capabilities. They also explore FP&A use cases, such as Price Volume Mix analysis, and evaluate the tool's ability to build a five-year forecast model, including adding an automatic revolver, noting its impressive mechanical capabilities but cautioning against over-reliance without proper understanding and scrutiny.