OpenAI Developing Excel and PowerPoint-like Tools for ChatGPT, Potentially Rivaling Microsoft Office

ChatGPT May Soon Support Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint Files

Excel and PowerPoint file formats are available as open-source OpenAI is reportedly developing new productivity tools for ChatGPT that could reduce users' reliance on Microsoft's Excel and PowerPoint. As per the report, the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm is working on adding support for Microsoft's spreadsheet and presentation file formats, so users can both create and edit these files directly within the chatbot's interface. Separately, the company is reportedly also building an AI agent that can collect public or corporate data to create comprehensive reports. Notably, another report has claimed that OpenAI is also working on developing an AI-powered web browser. If you're among those who use ChatGPT for their productivity needs, you would already know that the AI chatbot is capable of generating plain-text spreadsheets and presentations. These can also be opened in the Canvas mode, allowing users to edit these files themselves or ask the AI to make inline changes. Alternatively, users can also ask ChatGPT to generate an Excel (.xlsx) or PowerPoint (.pptx) file directly, which can be downloaded and opened via the respective application. However, users cannot open these files within the chatbot's interface or create a new sheet within Canvas. So the existing workaround is to create the basics of the file as plain text, then convert it to an Excel or PowerPoint file and download it. But that also brings its set of challenges. Since these are plain text files, ChatGPT cannot add functions in Excel or add any visual elements or animations in PowerPoint. According to The Information, OpenAI is now planning to eliminate this gap. Citing an unnamed source who has used the new feature, the publication claimed that the AI firm has developed support for xlxs and pptx file formats natively within ChatGPT. Building this capability does not break any copyright laws either, since Microsoft has open-sourced these file formats. While the report did not mention any release data for these features, it highlighted that these could reduce users' reliance on Microsoft's Office apps. Separately, the report claims that OpenAI is also working on an AI agent for ChatGPT that can create reports (like in xlsx and pptx formats) based on either public data or external data that has access to (corporate data, uploaded files, connectors, etc). There's no word on its release date either.

OpenAI to launch open source Excel and PowerPoint-like tools for ChatGPT users

As ChatGPT becomes more Office-like, OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft may evolve into subtle competition. OpenAI is working on a significant upgrade to ChatGPT that could reduce the users' reliance on Microsoft Office. According to a report by The Information, new features are in development that would allow ChatGPT users to create and edit spreadsheets and presentations, functions typically handled by Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. These tools are currently being tested by at least one early user. The report cited a user who has accessed the new features as saying that new buttons will be added under the ChatGPT search bar, guiding them through creating a spreadsheet or a presentation. Once done, they can download the files and open them in Microsoft Office or any app that supports the same formats. OpenAI can offer this compatibility because Microsoft's file formats for Excel (.xlsx) and PowerPoint (.pptx) are open source, so OpenAI doesn't need any permission to build tools that use them. Notably, these tools are part of OpenAI's broader plan to turn ChatGPT into more than just a chat assistant. The company is also building AI "agents" that can handle complex, multi-step tasks like pulling together data for reports, booking meetings, or even browsing the internet on your behalf. These agents could eventually run tasks autonomously, without users needing to guide them every step. If OpenAI pulls this off, ChatGPT could become an alternative to Microsoft Office and Google Workspace, potentially shaking up the business software market. Also read: Vivo X100 price drops by over Rs 12,500 during Flipkart Goat sale: How to grab this deal This news comes at an interesting time in the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership. Microsoft has invested billions in OpenAI and uses its technology to power Copilot features in Word, Excel, and other Office 365 apps. In turn, ChatGPT runs primarily on Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. But despite the tight collaboration, the lines between the two companies are starting to blur. With OpenAI now developing tools that compete with Microsoft Office, reports suggest that their relationship may be shifting, from partners to potential competitors.