[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Google's generative artificial intelligence (AI) Gemini is changing how people use spreadsheets as it handles everything from building budget tables to real-time spending analysis in Google Sheets. With users able to build personal finance management systems using only natural-language commands, without complex functions or data analysis knowledge, some view AI as moving beyond a productivity tool and beginning to act as a personal finance assistant.

On June 4 (local time), IT outlet TechRadar reported that Gemini can carry out tasks in Google Sheets through natural-language commands, including creating tables, writing formulas, setting conditional formatting, making charts and analysing data.

The core approach is to separate a main sheet for budget management from a data sheet for entering spending. Users can generate a basic tracking format by asking Gemini to create a budget tracker consisting of category, budget amount, actual spending and the difference.

Gemini can then insert formulas needed for the difference column. If it is set to subtract actual spending from the budget amount, the difference updates whenever values change. It can also apply conditional formatting to show deficit items in red and under-budget items in green. Users can add a total row to check weekly budget totals, actual spending, and overall overspending or savings at a glance.

Automation is fully implemented by linking the data-entry sheet and the main sheet. Users can restrict the spending-category entry field to a dropdown menu that allows selection only from categories registered in the main sheet. This can reduce input errors and ensure data consistency.

Gemini also creates formulas that automatically aggregate spending details and reflect category-by-category amounts in real time. When users enter the relevant command, the main sheet's actual spending is linked to the data-entry sheet and updates automatically.

Google has also added analysis features. If users select a table and run the "Analyse this data" function, Gemini summarises weekly budget flows and analyses key spending patterns. It can also automatically create visualisations such as pie charts and bar graphs, making it easier to understand spending structure.

Predictive analysis is also possible. Users can ask about an expected month-end food expense based on current spending trends, the spending category that has risen fastest over the past few weeks, or realistic savings targets. TechRadar said Gemini can go beyond simple totals to find hidden patterns such as higher spending on specific days of the week or a recent rise in dining-out costs.

Not all features are provided for free. Basic use is possible on the free version, but a paid subscription is required to make active use of Gemini features within Sheets.

Business users can use Gemini in Sheets and Docs through Google Workspace plans. The $7-a-month entry plan provides Gemini only in Gmail, and a $14-a-month Standard plan is required to use it in Sheets. Individual users can access it through a Google One AI Premium subscription starting at $1.99 a month, and all plans include a one-month free trial.

The industry views this case as showing AI expanding beyond productivity tools into personal finance management. In the past, users had to write functions and formulas themselves, but the approach is shifting to one in which users describe the desired result in natural language and AI builds tables and analyses data.

As a result, spreadsheets are evolving from simple record-keeping tools into personal finance management platforms that analyse spending patterns and predict future spending. With AI handling management and analysis after data entry, the barrier to getting started with financial management is expected to fall further.