Research is tedious. You search, read, evaluate, copy, paste—over and over. What if you could just describe what you're looking for and let AI gather the data?
Spreadsheet Agent's Research feature lets you collect information using plain English queries and send it directly to Google Sheets. No APIs. No coding. Just describe what you need.
Why Automate Research?
Whether you're building a list, comparing options, or gathering data for a project—manual research follows the same painful loop:
- Search across multiple sources
- Read and evaluate each result
- Copy the relevant bits into your spreadsheet
- Repeat until you're done (or burned out)
This eats hours. An AI research tool does the searching and structuring for you—so you can focus on actually using the data.
How the Research Agent Works
1. Set Up Your Spreadsheet
Create a Google Sheet with columns for what you want to collect. Connect it to Spreadsheet Agent and map your fields.
2. Enable the Research Agent
Toggle on the Research Agent feature. This activates AI-powered research for your sheet.
3. Describe What You're Looking For
Type a natural language query. Examples:
"Top-rated Italian restaurants in Austin with outdoor seating"
"Universities in California with computer science programs"
"Podcasts about personal finance started in 2023"
The AI understands context—just describe what you need like you would to a person.
4. Review and Insert Results
The Research Agent finds matching results and shows them for review. You can:
- Preview each result before adding
- Edit any fields
- Insert directly into your Google Sheet
You stay in control of what goes into your spreadsheet.
What Can You Research?
Places & Local Info
Restaurants, hotels, gyms, coworking spaces, stores—find and compare options by location, ratings, features, or price range.
Products & Services
Compare software tools, gadgets, subscription services, or anything you're shopping for. Build comparison sheets in minutes.
People & Organizations
Find professionals, companies, nonprofits, or creators matching specific criteria. Great for networking, partnerships, or sourcing.
Content & Media
Compile lists of podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters, blogs, or books on any topic.
Academic & Reference
Gather research papers, statistics, historical data, or reference information for projects and reports.
Events & Opportunities
Find conferences, job postings, grants, competitions, or meetups matching your interests.
Why This Beats Manual Research
- You start with plain-language queries instead of brittle selectors.
- You still review every row before insertion, so quality stays in your control.
- You can run the same schema across new research tasks without rebuilding your workflow each time.
Who Uses This?
- Students and researchers compiling data
- Small business owners comparing vendors or tools
- Content creators building resource lists
- Event planners researching venues and vendors
- Job seekers tracking opportunities
- Hobbyists organizing collections or wishlists
- Anyone who needs structured data from the web
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of queries can I make?
Anything you'd ask a research assistant. Find places by location and features. Compare products by specs. Discover content by topic. The AI interprets your intent and finds relevant results.
Where does the data come from?
The Research Agent searches publicly available information across the web and structures it based on your spreadsheet columns.
How accurate is the data?
You preview and verify every result before inserting. Nothing goes into your spreadsheet without your approval.
Can I do bulk research?
Yes. Run multiple queries and build comprehensive lists. Each result is shown for quick review before adding.
Start Automating Your Research
Stop spending hours on manual data collection. Describe what you need and let AI do the tedious work.
Try Spreadsheet Agent — Plans start at $5/month.