Google has upgraded its Gemini AI in Google Sheets with a new feature that can analyze, explain, and help fix failing spreadsheet formulas. Now, when a formula error occurs, the Gemini pane offers not only corrective suggestions but also a breakdown of why it went wrong—and how to repair it.
The AI assistant lives in the Sheets sidebar and supports users by proposing alternative formulas and guiding through common pitfalls. For example, if you use the wrong function—say, COUNTIF instead of COUNTIFS—Gemini can point out the mismatch and suggest the correct approach. It’s especially useful for those who don’t have deep formula knowledge or struggle with debugging.
In real-world testing, a user ran a COUNTIF query to count guests who RSVP’d “Yes.” Gemini promptly supplied the formula, but the result showed zero as the count. At that point, the AI explained that the intended RSVP column was empty—the actual acceptances were tracked elsewhere. The insight helped the user correct their spreadsheet structure.
On more advanced requests—such as calculating how far guests traveled—Gemini admitted its limits in performing the calculation natively. Instead, it offered two paths: crafting a custom script using Google Maps API, or applying a straight-line distance formula (Haversine) within Sheets. Gemini provided a workable formula using latitude and longitude—along with explanations of key constants like Earth’s radius (e.g. 6371 for km, 3959 for miles). With correct cell references, the formula produced results consistent with external calculations.
While the new function significantly improves formula usability, it still has limitations. It can’t yet execute complex spatial or routing calculations directly, and it depends on users providing accurate reference data (e.g. coordinates). That said, Gemini’s educational approach—explaining “why” rather than just offering fixes—marks a shift from automation toward interpretability.
For many users, this update transforms Google Sheets from a reactive tool into a proactive tutor. It’s especially valuable for non-power users who regularly struggle with formulas and error messages. And for power users, it offers validation and catching subtle errors early.
Overall, Google continues to weave advanced AI into its productivity suite. With this upgrade, Gemini is doing more than generating formulas—it’s helping users understand them.