Table of Contents
Quick answer
Looker has evolved into an AI-powered analytics powerhouse. Google’s Gemini integration transforms how teams explore data, build dashboards, and generate insights—all through natural language conversations.
The platform now includes conversational analytics, automated visualization creation, LookML code assistance, and slide generation. These features eliminate technical barriers while maintaining Looker’s enterprise-grade security and scalability.
Does Looker have an AI agent?
Yes. Looker now includes Gemini-powered AI agents that revolutionize data exploration.
The Gemini agent suite enables conversational analytics where you ask questions in plain English. No SQL required. It automates visualizations, suggests formulas, generates reports, and powers self-service analytics across your organization.
There are also APIs for embedding natural language analytics into custom applications. See the complete details in the official Looker AI documentation and latest platform releases.
What are the latest Looker AI features?
Conversational Analytics Powered by Gemini (May–August 2025)
Ask questions. Analyze data. All in natural language.
Google’s Gemini AI models power this breakthrough feature that eliminates the SQL barrier entirely. You can converse directly within Looker dashboards or use the new “Conversational Analytics API” to power chatbots and operational workflows in custom applications.
Recent upgrades include an experimental Code Interpreter that translates natural language into Python code. This enables forecasting, anomaly detection, and advanced visualization creation without writing a single line of code. Admins can enable Code Interpreter in Looker’s Gemini admin panel.
Source: Google Cloud Blog – Looker AI
Looker Reports & Visualization Assistant (April–June 2025)
“Looker Reports” unifies reporting capabilities from Looker Studio into the core platform. Drag-and-drop simplicity meets enterprise power.
The Visualization Assistant generates custom charts and templates using plain English prompts. Simply describe what you want to see, and AI builds it instantly.
Broader data source integration now includes direct connections to Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets, making data import seamless across platforms.
Formula & LookML Code Assistants (Preview, May–August 2025)
AI generates LookML model code, calculated fields, and formula suggestions instantly based on simple prompts. This speeds up model authoring dramatically while reducing errors.
The “Help me code” feature brings Gemini-powered suggestions directly into the LookML IDE. Technical teams work faster. Non-technical users can finally participate in data modeling.
Automated Slide Generation
Instant slide decks from any dashboard or report. AI writes summaries and analysis automatically.
Perfect for business reviews or sharing data stories with non-technical teams. No more manual screenshot gathering or explanation writing—AI handles the storytelling.
CI/CD for Analytics Projects
Looker provides continuous integration and testing for LookML and SQL changes. Automated checks ensure reliable, accurate semantic models.
This is crucial for teams building and deploying complex AI-powered BI at scale. Quality control becomes automatic rather than manual.
What are the popular Looker AI features?
Conversational Analytics
Anyone can query business data in natural language. No LookML or SQL skills required.
Users ask questions like “What were Q2 sales by region?” and receive instant, AI-generated visualizations and insights. This eliminates the technical bottleneck that traditionally limited analytics access to data teams only.
The feature works across dashboards, reports, and can be embedded into custom applications via API.
Availability by pricing plans
Available to all Looker-hosted enterprise customers. Activation is managed by Looker admins in the Gemini settings.
Requires Looker core platform licensing—not included in Looker Studio Free.
Visualization Assistant
Build custom dashboards and visualizations using natural language commands. AI generates the right charts and suggests optimal formats based on your data.
This tool simplifies dashboard creation for business users and analysts alike. Instead of learning complex chart configuration menus, you simply describe what you want to visualize.
Availability by pricing plans
Available to all Looker-hosted enterprise customers (requires Looker core platform, not Studio Free).
Preview features may be limited by admin settings.
Automated Slide Generation
Generate business-ready slide presentations with AI-powered summaries from any dashboard or report. Perfect for business reviews and presentations to non-technical audiences.
The AI analyzes your data visualizations and creates coherent narratives that explain trends, insights, and key findings automatically.
Availability by pricing plans
Included in enterprise and core Looker plans (not Studio Free).
Formula & LookML Code Assistant
Accelerates LookML model authoring and calculated field creation. Lowers the barrier for those new to Looker modeling while reducing errors for technical teams.
Simply describe what calculation or model structure you need, and AI generates the appropriate LookML code with proper syntax and best practices.
Availability by pricing plans
Available to developers and modelers in the enterprise/core Looker product.
Code Interpreter for Advanced Analytics
Experimental feature that translates natural language queries into executable Python code. Enables analytics like anomaly detection and forecasting without programming knowledge.
This makes advanced statistical analysis accessible to business users who previously needed data science expertise.
Availability by pricing plans
In preview. Available for Looker (original) 25.8+ and Looker core 25.10+. Enablement via admin.
Enterprise licensing only.
Common limitations of Looker AI
Steep learning curve (especially LookML modeling)
Even with AI tools, Looker’s power depends on a strong data foundation. Building LookML models and semantic layers remains a barrier for non-technical users.
Users cite complexity concerns: “Requires SQL and technical expertise… steep learning curve” and “If you don’t have a capable data team centrally planning your data models… Looker is the worst choice possible.”
Row-level security and embedded constraints
Native row-level security and embedding remain limited compared to competitors. Complex access-control scenarios often hit platform barriers.
User feedback reveals frustrations: “Looker’s restrictions became apparent, as it doesn’t allow us to filter data based on user access… started to feel like fighting against the platform.”
Performance and scale issues
Performance can be unreliable at scale. Slow dashboard load times and instability with large, complex datasets remain problematic.
38% of G2 reviewers in 2025 flagged performance issues, consistently citing “slow dashboards,” “broken visualizations,” and “overall bugginess,” especially outside Google’s own technology stack.
Pricing opacity and high costs
Enterprise pricing lacks transparency. Additional BigQuery and storage costs can be prohibitive for smaller teams.
Users report: “Looker was the priciest choice” and “Pricing transparency is low, making TCO estimates harder.”
What are the alternatives to Looker AI?
Coefficient AI
The spreadsheet-native AI assistant that brings advanced analytics directly to Google Sheets. No complex platform migration required.
Coefficient’s AI Sheets Assistant creates formulas, builds dashboards, generates pivot tables, and analyzes data using natural language—all within the familiar spreadsheet environment your team already uses. Unlike Looker’s steep learning curve, Coefficient works where your data lives and eliminates technical barriers entirely.
Two powerful use cases:
- Automated dashboard creation: Transform raw sales data into comprehensive performance dashboards with charts, metrics, and insights—no modeling required
- Conversational data analysis: Ask questions like “Show me year-over-year growth by region” and get instant visual answers with supporting calculations
Get started with Coefficient’s AI assistant →
Zapier
Zapier’s AI automation connects Looker data to thousands of other applications. No-code workflow creation makes complex integrations accessible.
Two key AI use cases:
- Automated alert distribution: AI analyzes dashboard metrics and automatically sends customized reports to Slack, email, or other tools when thresholds are met
- Intelligent data routing: AI categorizes and routes data insights from Looker to appropriate teams and systems based on content and priority
Clay
Clay specializes in AI-powered data enrichment and research automation. Perfect for teams using Looker who need enhanced data quality.
Two standout AI capabilities:
- Automated data enrichment: AI researches and appends missing company, contact, and market data to your Looker datasets automatically
- Intelligent lead scoring: AI analyzes patterns in your Looker sales data to score and prioritize prospects in real-time
Make data work for you
Looker’s AI features are powerful. But they come with complexity, cost, and constraints.
For teams seeking immediate AI-powered analytics without platform migration headaches, Coefficient offers a compelling alternative. Our AI assistant works directly in Google Sheets, where your data already lives, eliminating technical barriers while delivering enterprise-grade insights.
Ready to experience spreadsheet AI that actually works? Start building with Coefficient today.
FAQs
Is Looker AI free?
No, Looker AI features require enterprise or core platform licensing. Looker Studio Free doesn’t include AI capabilities. Pricing is typically opaque and requires custom enterprise quotes.
For immediate AI analytics without enterprise costs, consider Coefficient’s free AI assistant that works directly in Google Sheets.
Can Looker AI replace data analysts?
Looker AI assists analysts but doesn’t replace them entirely. Complex modeling, data governance, and strategic analysis still require human expertise. The AI excels at reducing routine query work and making insights more accessible to business users.
Coefficient’s AI assistant similarly augments rather than replaces analytical skills while being more accessible to non-technical teams.
What’s the difference between Looker and Looker Studio AI?
Looker (core platform) includes advanced AI features like conversational analytics and LookML assistance. Looker Studio focuses on basic visualization with limited AI capabilities. Enterprise features require the paid Looker platform.
How accurate is Looker’s AI-generated code?
Looker’s AI code generation is generally reliable for standard use cases but requires validation for complex scenarios. The system improves with usage and feedback. Always review AI-generated LookML and SQL before deploying to production.
Can I use Looker AI offline?
No, Looker AI requires internet connectivity to access Google’s Gemini models. All AI processing happens in the cloud. This dependency can be a limitation for organizations with strict data residency requirements.
