Making Sense of Spreadsheet Data with ChatGPT and Claude
Connecting This Episode to Our Seven-Day Practice
In our Seven Days of ChatGPT and Claude practice series, Day 5 focuses on research and fact-checking. We learn to question AI answers and check important information.
Today, we take that lesson a step further. Instead of checking written information, we use two AI assistants to examine spreadsheet data, verify calculations and understand website performance.
The subject is different, but the principle is the same: Don't simply accept the first answer from AI. Ask questions, check the results and use your own judgment.
From Numbers to Better Decisions
Many people look at a spreadsheet and see rows and columns of numbers.
But behind those numbers are patterns, changes, and useful information that can help us make better decisions.
Artificial intelligence is making this kind of analysis more accessible, even for people who are not spreadsheet experts.
In this episode, let's explore how ChatGPT and Claude can work together to help us understand website performance.
Our Example: AI123.ca Website Traffic
Imagine that we have collected six weeks of website traffic information for AI123.ca.
The spreadsheet contains two important measurements:
Sessions: How many visits were made to the website.
Page views: How many pages visitors viewed.
Here is our sample dataset:
| Week | Sessions | Page views |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 800 | 1,200 |
| Week 2 | 850 | 1,300 |
| Week 3 | 900 | 1,400 |
| Week 4 | 950 | 1,500 |
| Week 5 | 1,100 | 1,750 |
| Week 6 | 1,175 | 1,670 |
The challenge is not simply reading the numbers. We want to understand what they tell us.
Step 1: Ask ChatGPT to analyze the spreadsheet
Upload the spreadsheet and ask ChatGPT to:
Calculate total sessions and page views.
Calculate the weekly averages.
Identify the highest and lowest weeks.
Calculate the percentage change from Week 1 to Week 6.
Explain the overall traffic trend in plain English.
ChatGPT can turn the spreadsheet into a readable report.
Step 2: Ask Claude to independently review the analysis
Now give Claude the original data and ChatGPT's findings.
Ask Claude to verify the calculations and identify anything that may have been overlooked.
For example:
Are the totals correct?
Are the percentage changes accurate?
Does the interpretation match the actual numbers?
Are there unusual changes worth investigating?
This independent review is particularly useful when numbers influence business decisions.
Step 3: Bring Claude's feedback back to ChatGPT
Ask ChatGPT to examine the feedback and prepare a revised analysis.
The final report should explain:
Overall website traffic performance.
Changes from week to week.
Significant increases or decreases.
Possible areas for further investigation.
Practical recommendations.
What Did the Numbers Tell Us?
In our example:
Total sessions: 5,775.
Average weekly sessions: 962.5.
Total page views: 8,820.
Average weekly page views: 1,470.
Week 5 recorded the highest page views.
Sessions increased approximately 46.9% from Week 1 to Week 6.
Page views increased approximately 39.2% over the same period.
There is also something interesting about Week 6.
Sessions continued to increase, but page views fell from Week 5.
That does not automatically mean something went wrong. It tells us that the change deserves further investigation.
Perhaps visitors viewed fewer pages per session. We would need more information before explaining why.
Why Use Two AI Assistants?
ChatGPT can help us calculate and explain the numbers.
Claude can independently examine the analysis, challenge questionable conclusions, and identify possible omissions.
The combination encourages us to look beyond the first answer.
One important reminder: AI can make calculation and interpretation mistakes. Check important figures against the original spreadsheet or a reliable calculation tool. Avoid uploading confidential or sensitive information unnecessarily.
My Takeaway
I have learned that a spreadsheet does not have to remain a collection of numbers.
With the help of AI, we can turn those numbers into a clearer understanding of what is happening.
For a website publisher, this can help answer practical questions:
Is website traffic improving?
Which weeks performed best?
Are visitors viewing more pages?
What should we investigate next?
But there is a difference between identifying a trend and explaining its cause.
AI can help us recognize patterns. Human judgment is still needed to interpret them responsibly.
The lesson of Episode 5: Use AI to understand your numbers, but never let AI replace checking the numbers.
Two AI Assistants, One Human Director — AI Productivity Series.
Seven Days of ChatGPT + Claude Practice – Day 5: Research and Fact-checking.
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#AIProductivity #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #SpreadsheetAnalysis #DataAnalysis #ArtificialIntelligence #AItools #ProductivityTips #AIforSeniors #LearnAI #DigitalLearning #AI123 #DataInsights #EverydayAI