DataFramed

#146 Do Spreadsheets Need a Rethink? With Hjalmar Gislason, CEO of GRID

Jul 17, 2023

Hjalmar Gislason, founder and CEO of GRID and a seasoned data entrepreneur, discusses the urgent need for a spreadsheet revolution. They explore the historical significance of spreadsheets and the limitations of traditional tools like Excel. With AI poised to enhance usability, Hjalmar emphasizes integrating generative AI to aid in data manipulation without sacrificing accuracy. The conversation sheds light on how modern spreadsheet solutions can adapt to meet the needs of today’s data-driven businesses, making complex insights more accessible.

54:07

Creator website

Episode guests

Hjalmar Gislason

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Rethinking Spreadsheets for a New Generation

3min

The Evolution and Relevance of Spreadsheets in Data Management

6min

Transforming Spreadsheet Usability with AI

10min

The Evolution of AI in Data Narratives

6min

Integrating Grid with Data Tools

25min

The Evolution and Future of Spreadsheets: Understanding Code Through Data

2min

Spreadsheets have been the unsung heroes of the data world for many decades now. Yet, despite their ubiquity and importance, they've seen little disruption or evolution. The grid of cells we interact with today isn't far removed from the ones our predecessors used in the 1980s.

However, the winds of change have started to blow. As we stand on the cusp of a new era in data and AI, the humble spreadsheet is poised for transformation. The coming changes could redefine how we interact with data, derive insights, and how we make decisions. The implications are vast given the popularity and dependence we have on spreadsheets, and the potential impacts could ripple through every corner of the professional world.

Hjalmar Gislason is the founder and CEO of GRID, with their main product being a smart spreadsheet with an interactive data visualization layer and integrated AI assistance. Hjalmar previously served as VP of Product Management at Qlik. He was the founder and CEO of DataMarket, founded in 2008 and sold to Qlik in 2014. A career data nerd and entrepreneur, GRID is Hjalmar’s fifth software startup as a founder.

In the episode, Richie and Hjalmar explore the integral role of spreadsheets in today's data-driven world, the limitations of traditional Business Intelligence tools, and the transformative potential of generative AI in the realm of spreadsheets.