Smartsheet AI 2026: Smart Assist, Smart Columns, and What Still Needs Business
Smartsheet’s AI stack that you can actually click today is Smart Assist (in-app chat), Smart Columns (per-row AI transforms), Dashboard Builder, formula/chart generators, and intelligent form fill. MCP connectors to Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot need Business, Enterprise, or Advanced Work Management.
I verified this against Smartsheet’s AI features page, Smart Assist learning track, and AI management overview on October 13, 2026. This rewrite folds the still-accurate “shipped vs announced” split from the former Smart Agents post (#3762): treat keynote Smart Agents / Smart Flows / Smart Hub language as roadmap unless your account team has you in an early program.
What to use on Monday morning
| Capability | Plan floor (Smartsheet docs) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Assist | Pro+ | Summaries, risk prompts, bulk edits you approve |
| Generate formulas / analyze / charts | Pro+ (admin can toggle) | Drafting IF/COUNTIF logic |
| Smart Columns | Pro+ | Categorize, summarize, translate, sentiment per row |
| Dashboard Builder | Pro+ | Describe a dashboard; edit afterward |
| MCP connectors (Claude, ChatGPT, …) | Business+ | Work in the AI tool you already live in |
| System Admin AI toggles | Pro+ Admin Center | Turn features off org-wide |
Pro list pricing remains $9/member/month yearly ($12 monthly); Business $19 yearly ($24 monthly) on smartsheet.com/pricing.
Smart Assist — the feature people keep
Open a sheet → AI sparkle → ask in plain language. Smart Assist already has sheet context, so “what’s overdue?” beats pasting a CSV into a generic chatbot.
It can summarize, flag risk, draft updates, and propose bulk changes — you approve writes. Garbage in still produces confident garbage: sparse status columns and blank owners make “risk” answers look smarter than they are.
Smart Columns
Add a Smart Column with instructions (“Tag each row Technical / Commercial / Regulatory”). It runs as data changes. Budget time to review the first batch; tune the prompt before you trust it on 5,000 rows.
Dashboard Builder and formula AI
Describe the dashboard and data sources, then fix chart choices. Formula AI is fastest on standard patterns; always test @row references on messy rows (formulas guide).
MCP connectors vs Smart Assist
Smart Assist is inside Smartsheet. MCP connectors let Claude/Copilot/ChatGPT read and act on Smartsheet data you can access. Admins manage both on the AI management page — toggles are plan-wide, not per-user.
What is still not “buy it for agents”
Marketing still talks about autonomous project agents and natural-language automation builders. Unless Smartsheet has enabled a named early-access feature on your plan, do not redesign delivery around an agent you cannot switch on. Build on Smart Assist + columns + Connector workflows (Jira Connector, Data Shuttle).
Admin checklist before org-wide AI
- Open Admin Center AI management.
- Disable connectors your security team has not approved.
- Leave Smart Assist on for a pilot workspace first.
- Document: no pasting regulated data into prompts if policy forbids it — product controls help, policy still matters.
- Train owners to review bulk edits.
Common questions
Do I need Enterprise for Smartsheet AI?
No for Smart Assist and core in-app AI — Pro is the documented floor. Enterprise adds governance scale; MCP connectors start at Business.
Can Smart Assist change data without me?
It proposes actions; approve before writes. Still audit high-impact sheets.
Are Smart Agents generally available?
Treat them as early-access / roadmap unless your tenant shows them. Build on GA features listed above.
Does AI cost extra credits?
In-app AI is packaged with the plan (subject to admin toggles). External tools have their own billing. Confirm any usage meters with Smartsheet if you are on a custom Enterprise contract.
Checked October 13, 2026 against Smartsheet AI feature, Smart Assist, and AI management docs. Folded shipped-vs-announced caution from former post 3762.
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