A new artificial intelligence (AI) agent named Shortcut has launched, claiming to significantly outperform human analysts in complex Excel-based tasks. According to a recent tweet by "nico," the AI agent achieved an 89.1% success rate (220 wins to 27 losses) against first-year analysts from McKinsey and Goldman Sachs in head-to-head competitions, even when humans were given ten times more time to complete the tasks. This announcement highlights a significant leap in AI capabilities for professional data analysis.
Shortcut functions as a "superhuman" AI Excel agent, designed to automate various business tasks that typically require skilled human analysts. Leveraging natural language processing (NLP) technology, the agent allows users to execute complex operations—such as data calculations, financial modeling, scenario planning, and chart generation—simply by describing their needs in plain language, eliminating the need for intricate formulas or VBA code. This capability aims to lower the technical barrier for a wide range of Excel users.
Beyond its reported performance against top-tier analysts, Shortcut has also demonstrated impressive speed and accuracy in other challenges. Reports indicate the AI agent scored over 80% on real-world Excel Championship problems in approximately ten minutes, tasks that often take trained human competitors an hour or more. This efficiency underscores its potential to revolutionize productivity in data-intensive environments.
Developed by Fundamental, Shortcut is positioned as a tool to transform how professionals interact with spreadsheets and data. While acknowledging it is "not perfect" yet, its creators emphasize its ability to handle most knowledge work tasks on Excel faster than a person could. The company also assures users of robust privacy and security measures, stating that Excel files are processed in isolated sessions, deleted after use, and never used to train the AI, ensuring data confidentiality.
The emergence of AI agents like Shortcut signals a growing trend in augmenting human capabilities in professional settings. As the tool becomes more widely adopted, it could redefine workflows for financial professionals, data analysts, and businesses handling large volumes of spreadsheet data, potentially freeing up human talent for more strategic and creative endeavors.