AI Sheet Formulas

AI Sheet Formulas brings the add-on's AI workflow directly into the spreadsheet grid. Instead of opening the sidebar for every task, you can type a custom formula such as =AIASK(...) and return AI-generated results that spill into the sheet.

For copyable examples of every formula, open Extensions → Text To Table Converter → ✨ AI Sheet Formulas.

Google Sheets Only

AI Sheet Formulas is currently available in Google Sheets™ only.

Before You Start#

• Open the add-on sidebar once and complete sign-in in the same account/profile.
• Set AI Permission to Allow in Settings. Formulas cannot ask for permission from inside a cell.
• Each formula call that reaches the AI counts as one AI request, no matter how many rows its range has. The free plan includes 25 AI requests every 30 days; Pro is unlimited.
• Results are cached for 6 hours. Recalculating a formula with the same instruction and input returns the cached answer and does not count as a new request.
• Use range-based formulas such as A2:A50 instead of dragging one single-cell formula down the sheet.

Available Formulas#

• =AIASK(instruction, [input_range], [refresh])
• =AITAG(value, tags, [refresh])
• =AITRANSLATE(input_range, target_language, [refresh])
• =AIVOCAB(text_range, language, [refresh])
• =AIPATTERN(example_range, target_range, [refresh])
• =AIDRAFT(prompt, context_range, [refresh])
• =AIMERGE(instruction, input_range, [refresh])
• =AISPLIT(input_range, split_instruction, [refresh])
• =AITABLE(prompt, [context_range], [refresh])
• =AIREVERSECALC(target_ref, input_range_ref, [max_candidates], [tolerance], [refresh])

What Each Formula Does#

• AIASK: batch extraction, cleanup, or question answering for one range
• AITAG: label each value using an allowed tag list
• AITRANSLATE: translate each value to a target language
• AIVOCAB: read the whole range and return one key vocabulary item as Term | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example sentence (the language argument sets the language of the meaning and example)
• AIPATTERN: learn a transformation pattern from example input-output pairs, then apply it to a target range
• AIDRAFT: generate one drafted output per row
• AIMERGE: merge each row into one AI-composed summary or output cell
• AISPLIT: split each input row into structured parts that spill across columns
• AITABLE: generate a full text table with headers that spills across rows and columns
• AIREVERSECALC: suggest candidate formulas that can recreate a target value from a source range

Common Examples#

=AIASK("Extract the primary domain from this email address", A2:A50, $Z$1)

=AITAG(A2:A200, "van life, freedom, outdoors", $Z$1)

=AITRANSLATE(A2:A200, "German", $Z$1)

=AIVOCAB(A2:A50, "English", $Z$1)

=AIPATTERN(A2:B5, A6:A100, $Z$1)

=AIDRAFT("Write a 2-sentence polite rejection email citing this reason:", C2:C20, $Z$1)

=AIMERGE("Summarize each row in one sentence", A2:C50, $Z$1)

=AISPLIT(A2:A50, "Split into Name, City, Issue", $Z$1)

=AITABLE("List the top 5 US cities by population with columns for State, Mayor, and Population", , $Z$1)

=AIREVERSECALC("E10", "A2:C10", 5, 0.01, $Z$1)

Batch Limits And Output Notes#

Important Limits#

• Formula names use AI... without dots, such as AIASK, not AI.ASK.
• Custom formula functions are available only in Google Sheets™.
• Formula outputs are plain text only. Use AI Agents if you need formatting after generation.
• Google Apps Script custom functions have a hard 30-second execution limit.
• AITABLE and AISPLIT can spill widely. Clear the full output area first to avoid #REF!.
• AIREVERSECALC expects A1-style references as text, such as "E10" and "A2:C10". The target cell must contain a number, and suggested formulas use only +, -, *, and /.
• AIPATTERN example ranges must have exactly two columns: input and expected output.
• Row-based formulas accept up to 24,000 characters of input in total.
• Blank input rows are skipped and come back as blank cells.
• Do not drag AIASK or similar formulas down 50 separate rows. Each copy is a separate AI request and a separate 30-second run. Use one range formula instead.

Best Practices#

• The optional [refresh] argument (for example a Checkbox in $Z$1) makes Sheets recalculate the formula. It does not bypass the 6-hour cache: to get a different answer, change the instruction or the input.
• Keep AIPATTERN example pairs small and representative. Four to six examples is usually enough.
• Clear enough space before running AISPLIT, AITABLE, or AIVOCAB.
• Keep AIREVERSECALC focused on a small numeric source range.
• If a formula times out, reduce the range size before retrying.

Troubleshooting#

• Error: AI permission must be set to Allow in add-on Settings.

Open Settings, set AI Permission to Allow, then recalculate the sheet.

• Error: AI usage limit reached.

Your AI quota is exhausted. Wait for reset or upgrade, then retry.

• Error: AIASK supports up to 200 rows. Use fewer rows. (or the same message for another formula)

The input exceeds the batch limit for that formula. Split it into smaller ranges.

• Error: AIASK input too large. Reduce text length or rows.

The combined text is over the character limit. Use fewer rows or shorter cells.

• Error: no result (try fewer rows)

The AI response was cut off before it reached these rows. Run the formula on a smaller range.

• Error: AI response malformed. Try again.

The AI returned something the add-on could not read. Recalculate, or change the instruction slightly.

• Error: AI call failed. Try again later.

Retry with fewer rows. If it keeps failing, check add-on or backend status.

• #REF!

Cells in the spill path already contain data. Clear the output area first.

• #ERROR!

The function likely hit the 30-second Apps Script limit. Reduce the range and retry.

Related Guides#

• AI Agents - Use sidebar-driven AI workflows for sheet cleanup, formatting, formulas, and follow-up prompts.

• Settings - Review AI permissions and other settings that affect AI-powered features.