The personal computing revolution was ignited not by the Apple II computer itself, but by VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program. This demonstrated a crucial market lesson: a single, indispensable piece of software (a 'killer app') can create the demand for an entire hardware platform.
AI models are not an immediate threat to Excel because they are designed for approximation, not the precise computation required for financial and data analysis. Their 'black box' nature also contrasts with a spreadsheet's core value proposition: transparent, verifiable calculations that users can trust.
Excel is perceived as a tool of capitalist drudgery where employees are just numbers on a spreadsheet. Yet, its immense power inspires a passionate user community that creatively subverts its purpose, such as finding ways to watch movies within the application to trick workplace surveillance software.
Excel's market dominance stems from Microsoft's strategy of bundling it into the non-negotiable Microsoft Office suite. This made it impossible for enterprise customers to purchase software à la carte, effectively locking out competitors and making individual user preference irrelevant.
Far from its boring office reputation, Excel has a competitive scene framed as a serious eSport, complete with pro-style athlete entrances and live commentators. This cultural phenomenon highlights the software's surprising depth and passionate user base, transforming drudgery into a spectator sport.