Univer: ex-head of Feishu spreadsheet development creates AI-tables for agents

Electronic spreadsheets, which have long remained the domain of manual labor, are experiencing a renaissance thanks to artificial intelligence. Univer, a startup founded by the former head of Feishu spreadsheet development, aims to radically transform the approach to working with data by turning electronic spreadsheets into an AI-tool that will be used not by humans, but by AI agents.

Univer's founder and CEO, Liu Yang, is confident that the future lies in automation: AI should independently import, clean, and analyze data, providing users with ready-made insights. Unlike the Copilot approach, where humans still interact with the tool, Univer offers a fully automated solution where AI makes decisions and humans approve them.

The key to realizing this concept is Univer's proprietary spreadsheet engine, developed from scratch. It allows extracting dependency graphs between formulas, making information more understandable for AI. Univer also uses an SDK architecture, which allows integrating spreadsheets into existing workflows without requiring users to switch between applications.

Univer is already demonstrating impressive results. In the global SpreadsheetBench ranking, the company outperformed Excel Copilot and ChatGPT Agent. Univer's product, "Capalyze", provides users with the ability to automatically collect and analyze data from various sources, transforming it into structured electronic spreadsheets.

The implications for the industry and users are significant. AI-powered spreadsheets have the potential to revolutionize data analysis, making it faster, more efficient, and more accessible. Businesses can leverage AI agents to automate data processing, freeing up human employees to focus on strategic decision-making. The rise of AI-native spreadsheets could also lead to the development of new applications and services that leverage the power of structured data.

However, there are obstacles on the path to widespread adoption of AI-spreadsheets. It is necessary to ensure the accuracy and reliability of AI algorithms, as well as address data security and privacy issues. Additionally, users will need training and adaptation to new ways of working with electronic spreadsheets.

Univer stands at the dawn of a new era in data work. By turning electronic spreadsheets into an AI-tool, the company opens up new possibilities for automation, analysis, and decision-making. Although there is still much work to be done, the potential of AI-spreadsheets is enormous, and they could fundamentally change the way information is handled in the future.