How to Chat with Your Data Using AI-Powered Search in Power BI
You can now talk to your data in Power BI with AI-powered search. Microsoft Fabric Copilot gives you a chat tool. You can say what you need in simple words. You do not need to know coding or hard tech skills. Copilot helps you make reports and write SQL queries. It also helps you do boring tasks faster. This way, you can find answers fast, no matter who you are. You can solve business problems by just asking questions. With chat analytics, you make better choices and get more from your data.
Key Takeaways
Use AI-powered search in Power BI to ask questions in easy words. This helps everyone look at data, even if they are not tech experts.
Begin with clear and simple questions for better answers. For example, ask about sales in one month to get correct details.
Make sure your data is neat and sorted well. Clean data gives better answers from the AI and helps you make good choices.
Use the chat tool to make reports and charts fast. This saves time and helps you see your data quicker.
Add security steps to keep private data safe. Use role-based access and data loss rules to protect your data.
AI Search in Power BI
Overview
You can now use AI-powered search and chat features in Power BI to explore your data in new ways. With Microsoft Fabric Copilot, you get a chat interface that lets you ask questions about your data using everyday language. You do not need to know special codes or formulas. Copilot listens to your questions and helps you find answers quickly. This tool changes how you work with data. You can find reports, models, and even specific data points just by asking.
Other platforms, such as Julius AI and DataChat, also offer AI chat for data. However, Power BI stands out because it connects deeply with your existing reports and models. You get a seamless experience inside the tools you already use. This makes it easier to get started and see results fast.
Tip: Start with simple questions. For example, you can ask, "Show me sales by region," and Copilot will create a chart for you.
Key Features
Here are some of the main features you can use with AI search in Power BI:
Standalone Copilot Experience: You get a full-screen chat window where you can talk to your data.
Finding Reports and Data: You can ask Copilot to find reports, semantic models, or data agents by name or other details.
Ad Hoc Questioning: You can ask new questions at any time and get instant charts or summaries.
DAX Query Generation: Copilot can write DAX queries for you when you need special calculations.
These features help you explore your data faster and make better decisions. You do not have to wait for someone else to build a report. You can get answers on your own, right inside Power BI.
Getting Started
Setup Steps
You can turn on Copilot and chat in Power BI by doing a few easy things. Go to the Admin portal for Fabric. Pick Tenant settings. Find the option called Users can use Copilot and other features powered by Azure OpenAI. Flip the Enabled switch to on. It is off at first, so you must change it. In the Applies to part, choose who gets Copilot in your group. After you pick, click Apply to save.
Tip: If Azure OpenAI does not work in your area, you might need to change more settings. The Copilot chat only works in places that have Fabric.
When you turn on Copilot in Fabric, people can use Copilot in many jobs. This means you get chat tools in lots of your data places.
Data Connections
Good data connections help you use AI analytics better. You should watch your data connections and gateways closely. Use the Standard Gateway for big companies to make things work well and grow. If you split gateways for live and scheduled jobs, you can stop things from getting slow.
You can also use dual storage mode. This lets Power BI choose the best way to run each job. Composite models let you mix tables with different storage types. This keeps your data fresh and makes reports quick. Live links to semantic models stop you from doing the same work twice and keep things neat.
Note: Check your datasets often. Good dataset care keeps your data easy and fast to use.
Security
Keeping your data safe matters when you use AI chat. You can use many security steps to protect your info. The table below lists some main tools and what they do:
You can also set permissions in different places. Workspace security picks who can change or share reports. Row-level security makes sure people only see what they need. Object-level security stops access to some tables or columns. App-level security picks who can see shared apps. Give user roles like Admin, Member, Contributor, or Viewer to keep things safe.
Tip: Use single sign-on for easy and safe logins. Set up audit logs and alerts to spot strange actions. Check permissions often to keep your data safe.
Using Natural Language
Asking Questions
You can talk to your data in a way that feels natural. When you use the chat feature, you do not need to remember special codes or formulas. You just type your question as if you are talking to a person. This makes it easy for anyone to get answers, even if you are new to data analysis.
To get the best results, try these tips when asking questions:
Be precise and specific. If you want to know about sales, say exactly which sales and for what time.
Use keywords from your data. If your data has "product category" or "region," include those words in your question.
Keep your sentences simple. Ask questions like you would in a normal conversation.
Tip: The more direct your question, the better the answer. For example, instead of saying "Show me sales," try "What are the total sales for October 2018?"
Here are some examples of questions you can ask:
What are the total sales for October 2018?
Which product category had the highest sales in 2019?
Who are the top 10 customers by revenue?
Display the top 10 cities with high sales in a pie chart.
You can also ask for charts or summaries. If you want to see a list, a chart, or a table, just say so in your question. This helps the system know what kind of answer you want.
Interpreting Results
After you ask a question, the system works to understand what you mean. Power BI uses natural language processing and machine learning to figure out your intent. It looks for keywords and matches them to your data. Then, it creates a chart, table, or summary that answers your question.
You can use this feature on all platforms, including Desktop, Service, and mobile. You just open the Q&A box and type your question. The system shows you the answer right away. This makes it easy for you to explore your data, no matter your skill level.
When you see the results, check if they match what you expected. If the answer does not look right, try making your question more specific. You can also change your question and ask again. The system learns from your questions and gets better over time.
Note: If you want to see your data in a different way, you can ask for another type of chart or a different time period. For example, you can say, "Show sales by region last month as a bar chart."
You can use these steps to get quick insights and make better decisions. The chat feature helps you find answers fast, so you can focus on what matters most.
Real-World Benefits
Insights
AI-powered search helps you find answers much faster. You do not need to spend hours looking for reports. You do not have to wait for someone to make a dashboard. The system shows you important trends and insights. It can change reports to match what you care about. You get updates right away, so you can act fast when things change.
Here are some ways groups get better insights:
Many industries see these benefits. Retail stores can guess demand better and get more from marketing. Healthcare teams lower patient readmissions. Factories have less downtime and make better products.
Decision-Making
AI-powered analytics help you make good choices every day. You get answers right away, so you can act fast. The system makes reports quicker and helps you find answers. AI finds patterns that people may not see, so your data is more correct.
AI tools show you important changes, so you do not miss anything.
Reports only show the data you need.
Real-time analysis helps you react to new info fast.
Automated insights mean you do not have to wait for reports.
The Power BI Product team keeps adding new features. Soon, you can limit Copilot search to approved content. You will get verified answers and new tools for making reports your way. These updates will make things even better and help you use your data more.
Challenges
Data Security
When you use AI-powered search in Power BI, you must keep your data safe. You work with sensitive information, so you need to stop people who should not see it. Your organization must follow rules like GDPR or HIPAA. Here is a table that lists some common risks for data security:
To protect your data, you can use different strategies:
Set up role-based access control so only certain users can see or change data.
Enforce data loss prevention policies to stop sensitive data from leaving Power BI.
Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to watch for threats and risky activity.
Create a data classification system to label data by sensitivity.
Review access controls often to make sure they protect your data.
Tip: Always check who can see your reports. Update permissions when your team changes.
Accuracy
You want your AI-powered insights to be right and helpful. Sometimes, AI tools do not know your business well. This can give results that are not what you expect. The AI might give answers that are too simple or even wrong for hard questions.
Many things can change how correct your results are. Clean and organized data helps the AI give better answers. If your data has mistakes, the AI may also make mistakes. Finding key influencers in your data helps make insights better.
Remember: Check your results and change your questions if needed. This helps you get the most correct answers from your data.
AI-powered search in Power BI lets you ask questions using simple words. You do not need special skills to see your data. This makes it easy for anyone to use analytics.
You get answers quickly and can make good choices.
Clean data gives you results you can trust.
Guides and online groups help you learn new things.
Copilot helps everyone build reports without trouble.
First, think about what you want to do. Check if your data is good. Try out training that is ready for you. Join forums and read updates to keep learning about Power BI. This helps you get better all the time.
FAQ
How do you start a chat with your data in Power BI?
You open Power BI and look for the Copilot or chat icon. Click it. Type your question in the chat box. Press Enter. You see answers right away.
Can you use Copilot with any dataset?
You can use Copilot with most datasets in Power BI. Make sure your data is well-organized and has clear names. Some features work best with supported data models.
What types of questions can you ask Copilot?
You can ask about totals, trends, top items, or comparisons. For example, ask, "Show me sales by month," or "Who are the top customers?" Copilot understands simple, direct questions.
Is your data safe when using AI chat in Power BI?
Yes. Power BI uses security tools like sensitivity labels and access controls. Only people with permission can see your data. You can set rules to protect sensitive information.
Can you get charts and tables from Copilot?
Yes! You can ask Copilot to show results as charts, tables, or summaries. Just say, "Show as a bar chart," or "List as a table." Copilot creates the visual for you.