Tips for creating quick reports with AI

AI-powered tools can turn days of work into minutes by automating data analysis and report generation. Modern BI platforms use AI to ingest raw data, spot patterns, and produce charts and text almost instantly. By tapping these features, you can accelerate reporting for your team or stakeholders. Below are practical tips to harness AI for fast, reliable reports.

Centralize and Prepare Your Data with AI

First, gather all relevant data into one place. Leading AI-enhanced analytics platforms (like IBM Cognos or Domo) let you connect multiple data sources in a unified view. For example, Cognos "integrates with your existing tools, bringing all your data into a single, unified dashboard".

Integrates with your existing tools, bringing all your data into a single, unified dashboard.

— IBM Cognos Analytics

This eliminates the tedious manual merging of spreadsheets and databases. With data centralized, AI can process it faster. The platform's AI "agent" can then analyze complex datasets across sales, marketing, finance, and more, surfacing the key findings automatically.

Data centralization and preparation workflow

Auto-Generate Visuals and Insights

Next, use built-in AI report features to create charts and narratives automatically. Tools like Microsoft Power BI's Quick Reports and IBM Cognos's AI assistant scan your data and suggest visuals in seconds.

AI-powered automatic report visual generation

Automate Scheduling and Templates

Once your data and visuals are set up, automate the routine. Define report templates and schedule them to run on autopilot. As Narrative BI reports, automated report generation "speeds up the reporting process" and "reduces the risk of errors, saving time".

Pre-defined formats reduce time spent creating reports and offer visual consistency across all deliverables.

— Narrative BI

Automated report scheduling and template management

Summarize and Streamline Content with AI

Use AI to distill information and write clear narratives. Large language models excel at summarizing and condensing data. For example, if your report includes lengthy analysis or meeting notes, an AI can generate a concise summary.

AI summarization replaces lengthy reports and manuals with bite-sized summaries that highlight key points.

— AI Summarization Expert

AI-powered content summarization process

Collaborate and Verify

Finally, take advantage of modern cloud platforms for teamwork, but always validate AI outputs. Cloud-based BI tools allow real-time collaboration — multiple colleagues can view, edit, and comment on the report simultaneously, avoiding version chaos.

Collaborative report verification workflow

Key Takeaways

• Connect and clean your data: Centralize sources in an AI-powered BI tool to save prep time (see IBM Cognos integration).
• Use AI report wizards: Leverage tools like Power BI's quick-report feature to auto-generate charts from your fields.
• Ask in plain language: Utilize AI assistants by typing questions (e.g. "show last quarter's sales trends?") to get instant visuals.
• Automate with templates: Save report templates and schedule updates/distributions so reports refresh automatically.
• Summarize content: Apply AI summarization to turn long analyses into brief insights.
• Review and collaborate: Use cloud platforms for real-time teamwork, and always validate the AI's output with a human review.

Top AI Tools for Report Generation

ChatGPT

AI-powered report assistant

ChatGPT is a generative AI application developed by OpenAI that enables users to quickly create professional-style written output—including structured reports—via natural language prompts. By asking ChatGPT to "generate a report on X topic", users can receive a draft document with headings, analysis and narrative in minutes, accessible on web and mobile. It supports multiple languages, multiple models, and offers both free and paid tiers.

Natural-language prompt input for generating structured reports, summaries, narratives.

File uploads and data analysis capabilities (in advanced plans) including spreadsheets, PDFs, and document‐analysis workflows.

Web and mobile access across platforms (browser, iOS, Android) for flexibility.

Multiple subscription tiers (Free, Plus, Pro, Enterprise) with increased context window, faster access, enterprise features.

The free tier is limited in usage (features, model versions, upload size) and advanced capabilities require a paid subscription.

AI-generated content may be inaccurate or include hallucinations—human review is still required.

While it supports data uploads and analysis, it may not fully replace specialized business intelligence/reporting tools or live data dashboards.

Some features (e.g., very large file uploads, extended context windows, enterprise security) are restricted to high-tier plans/enterprise customers.

Official website Google Play Store (Android) Apple App Store (iOS)

Microsoft Copilot

AI-powered productivity assistant

Microsoft 365 Copilot (often simply “Copilot”) is an AI-enhanced tool by Microsoft that helps users generate content, analyse data, and draft professional-style reports across Microsoft 365 apps. By integrating with applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams, Copilot leverages organizational data, large-language models and contextual intelligence to automate document creation, data insights and workflow tasks.

Generates structured documents and reports within Word or PowerPoint, leveraging your data and context.

Performs data analysis in Excel: identifies trends, suggests formulas, creates visuals and summaries.

Enables “chat with your data” experience in Power BI: ask questions about your datasets and get answers or summaries.

Integrates across Microsoft 365 apps using your organization’s data via Microsoft Graph, providing personalized, context-aware responses.

Copilot is not free in full form: access typically requires a Microsoft 365 subscription with Copilot licensing—free consumer version may have limited features.

Requires proper data model preparation (especially in Power BI) to ensure accurate insights; otherwise outputs may be generic or less reliable.

Multilingual support and availability of all features vary by region; some experiences are still in preview and some regions are unsupported.

While powerful, it does not fully replace specialised business-intelligence platforms or guarantee error-free output—human review remains necessary.

Official website

Power BI

AI-powered business analytics tool

Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence and reporting platform developed by Microsoft that enables organizations to connect to a wide range of data sources, transform and model that data, then generate interactive visuals, dashboards and reports to extract actionable insights. With support for AI-powered features such as natural language Q&A and Smart Narrative, Power BI accelerates report creation and data storytelling.

Connects to 100+ data sources (databases, cloud services, files) and supports data transformation via Power Query.

Built-in AI features: natural-language Q&A, automated insights and Smart Narrative to generate commentary on visuals.

Interactive dashboards and reports with drag-and-drop visuals, real-time analytics, sharing and collaboration via the Power BI Service.

Cross-device support: Desktop app for Windows, web service, and mobile apps for Android/iOS for viewing reports on the go.

The free version (Power BI Desktop / free service) lacks sharing capabilities and has data size/storage limits; full features require paid licensing.

Performance and scalability may degrade with very large datasets or complex models; dataset size limits apply depending on licence.

Steep learning curve for advanced modelling (e.g., DAX formulas, data modelling) and higher-end customisation may require technical expertise.

Real-time collaboration and editing features can be limited compared to other tools; some device responsiveness or custom visual limitations exist.

Official website

Storydoc

AI-powered interactive reports

Storydoc is a web-based platform that uses generative AI to turn standard documents, slides or reports into interactive, visually engaging narratives. With Storydoc you can create professional-looking reports, pitch decks or impact stories fast—by simply feeding prompts, PDFs or website links—and the system automatically generates layout, visuals, text and brand styling. It also offers tracking and analytic features so you can monitor viewer engagement in real time.

AI-driven report generation: input a prompt, document or website and Storydoc fills slides with content, structure and visuals.

Interactive-friendly output: live charts, embedded videos, forms and content that adapts to mobile devices.

Engagement analytics: track how people read, click and interact with your report or deck to refine your content.

Integrations & personalization: connect to CRMs or data sources, use dynamic variables for personalization, and generate many versions automatically.

While there is a free trial, full-feature access requires a paid subscription (Starter, Pro, Team tiers).

Some users report that the editor or customization options can be slower or more limited than fully manual design tools.

Data-visualisation and input quality still depend on how much relevant source data you provide; blank or placeholder visuals may appear if inputs are insufficient.

Mobile browser experience may vary depending on content complexity (though responsive design is emphasised).

Official website