AI vs. Spreadsheets: How the "Big 4" Simplify Social Media Data
- Gregg Sampsell
- Oct 17
- 3 min read
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a must-have tool for social media analysts and business owners alike. From simplifying data interpretation to generating clear visualizations, the "Big 4" platforms—ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and Claude—each bring unique strengths to the table. Here’s how they shine in the world of social media analytics.
ChatGPT: Fast Insights and Transparent Thinking
One of ChatGPT’s biggest advantages is how seamlessly it handles raw data. Simply paste a spreadsheet into the chat, and it can deliver actionable insights almost instantly.
What sets it apart is its ability to explain its process step by step. Instead of just giving you an answer, ChatGPT walks you through its reasoning. This transparency not only builds trust but also helps analysts understand the logic behind the results, making it a valuable partner for deeper data exploration.
I had ChatGPT look at an Excel file with social media data and asked it to comprehend the data and give me some insights about it. With the thinking mode enabled, it explained its plan for a response and how it achieved it. This is useful for fact-checking, but with this, it takes much longer to respond, so use it wisely!
Gemini & Copilot: Data Visualization Made Simple
Both Gemini and Copilot excel in data visualization, thanks to their direct integration with popular spreadsheet tools.
Here's the prompt I used in both Gemini and Copilot:
“Create a bar chart showing the average revenue generated by each post type for Facebook.”
You can ask Gemini and Copilot to “Create a bar chart showing the average revenue generated by each post type for Facebook”, and it will look at your data, look at each post-type for posts in the Facebook section, and calculate the revenue for each of them.
Gemini works right inside Google Sheets, allowing you to analyze and visualize data without needing to copy and paste. This is the data visualization I got from Gemini. Another thing to note is that the graph it made was interactive, letting you hover over each bar for exact results!
Copilot works directly inside Microsoft Excel, letting you turn raw numbers into clear visuals in seconds. Here is the data I got from Copilot. While the graph isn't interactive, it still has very accurate information!
By using simple prompts, these tools automatically identify key metrics, highlight what matters most, and transform your numbers into easy-to-understand charts—all without leaving the spreadsheet.
Claude: User-Friendly Insights for Everyone
Claude is designed for accessibility, making analytics approachable even for business owners with little technical background. Instead of just presenting numbers, it reframes insights into memorable, easy-to-grasp phrases.
This is the prompt I used in Claude:
"What are the most optimal posting days for each platform?"
For example, when asked about the best-performing days of the week, Claude highlighted “Weekend Winners” and “Midweek Champions” to clearly distinguish between weekday and weekend performance.
This conversational, user-first approach makes Claude a strong option for teams that want insights to be easily understood by all members—regardless of their data expertise.
Final Thoughts
Each of the Big 4 brings something different to the analytics table:
ChatGPT for transparent insights from longer, more complicated prompts.
Gemini & Copilot for seamless visualizations inside spreadsheets.
Claude for making analytics universally accessible.
Together, they showcase just how powerful AI has become in simplifying and enhancing social media analytics.
About the Author
Gregg Sampsel lis a third-year college student currently pursuing digital marketing alongside business analytics. His interests are in working with clients' social media to help them grow their brand's reach and increase their success.
Connect with Gregg on LinkedIn.
