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February 25th, 2026

How to Turn Your Data Into Graphs With AI: A Step-By-Step Guide

By Zach Perkel · 12 min read

XLinkedIn
After testing dozens of data visualization tools with sample business datasets, I found tools like Julius use AI to turn data into graphs faster than building charts manually. Here's how you can use Julius to turn data into clear visuals in 2026.

What you'll need before starting

Julius is an AI-powered data analysis tool that creates charts through natural language prompts. Getting started with Julius takes less setup than most data tools, and you don't need coding skills. Here’s what you need to get started:

  • Your data: In a supported format (CSV, Excel, Google Sheets, or database connection)

  • A Julius account: The free tier gives you 5 messages a month with the ability to upload files. To use connectors like PostgreSQL and BigQuery, you need to upgrade to a plan starting at $37/month, billed annually.

  • Clear goals: Know what insights you want from your data, such as monthly sales trends, customer churn rates, or marketing campaign performance.

Time required: 5-10 minutes for the first graph, then 1-2 minutes for additional graphs once your data is uploaded

How to turn your data into graphs with AI tools like Julius: Step-by-step

The process is the same whether you're analyzing a one-time CSV file or connecting to your company's database. Let’s walk through each step below:

Step 1: Upload your data or connect a data source

Julius gives you two ways to bring in data, depending on whether you need a one-time analysis or ongoing access. Here’s how to upload data into Julius:

For one-time uploads

Create and log in to your Julius account. Click the paperclip icon in the Julius interface and select your file.

You can also upload your data from Google Drive, OneDrive, or SharePoint. After uploading, Julius shows an overview so you can verify that the data loaded correctly.

Julius supports CSV, Excel (.xlsx), and Google Sheets. It can also work with PDFs, text files (.docx, .txt), and images (.jpeg, .png) by extracting text and tables from them when possible. 

Tip: If your spreadsheet has multiple tabs, specify which one to use by saying something like "Use the Sales_Data tab only." This prevents Julius from pulling data from the wrong sheet.
Click "Connectors" in the prompt box toolbar to link a data source directly. We built Julius to integrate with major databases like Postgres, Snowflake, and BigQuery. It also connects to other platforms, including Google Ads and Stripe.

Step 2: Ask for a graph in natural language

Once your data is loaded, click back into the chat panel, either from the left sidebar or the bottom prompt box. Type your request in the prompt box in plain English. You don't need to specify chart types or technical parameters unless you want to.

In the screenshot below, I asked for a chart with the prompt, “Show me revenue from lowest to highest over time.”

Julius interprets your question, determines the appropriate chart or graph type (bar, line, scatter, etc.), and generates the visualization automatically. The AI considers your data structure and the type of insight you're requesting to pick the most logical chart format.

You can also request specific chart types if you have a preference. For example, you can ask Julius questions like "Which region performed best last quarter?" or "Show me a stacked bar chart of sales by team and quarter." The more context you provide, the better your visualization will match what you need.

Tip: I recommend starting with broad questions and refining from there. It's easier to adjust an existing graph than to get everything perfect on the first try.

Step 3: Refine your graph with follow-up questions (optional)

The chart or graph from the previous step is ready to use as-is, but you can adjust it if you want. Type follow-up questions in the chat to change chart types, visual elements, or the data shown. 

Here are some example prompts:

Change the chart type

  • "Make this a line chart instead"

  • "Can you show this as a heat map?"

  • "Convert this to a stacked bar chart"

Adjust visual elements

  • "Use blue and orange for these bars"

  • "Make the font bigger on the axis labels"

  • "Add a title that says 'Q4 Performance Summary'"

Modify the data shown

  • "Remove outliers above $10,000"

  • "Filter to only show data from 2024"

  • "Add a trend line"

  • "Group this by week instead of day"

Tip: Code displays can clutter your view and distract from the results. If you don't want to see the Python code Julius generates, turn on "Collapse code" in settings to show only the chat and charts.

Step 4: Export or share your visualization

Once you have the graph you want, Julius offers several ways to use it. Here’s how:

Download your visualization

Click the "Download" button in the top right corner of the visualization.

Share within Julius

Click "Share" next to the Download button. Toggle "Make this chart public" on to generate a shareable link that anyone can view.

Continue in Slack

Click “Continue in Slack” in the top right corner of your Julius chat interface to integrate with Slack

Schedule automated reports

Click the schedule icon in the top right corner of your Julius chat interface to set up recurring delivery.

Choose daily or weekly frequency, and Julius will send updated versions of your graph via email or Slack automatically.

Pro tip: For recurring reports, save your analysis as a Notebook instead of just a chat. Notebooks let you schedule automated runs and freeze the code so the same calculation method is used every time, giving you consistent results across time periods.

Common mistakes to avoid

First-time users often hit the same roadblocks when creating graphs with AI. Here are the mistakes that slow down the process:

  • Uploading messy data: Empty rows, inconsistent formatting, and unclear column names can confuse the AI. Clean your data before uploading by removing blank rows, using consistent date formats (MM/DD/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD), and naming columns like "Monthly_Revenue" instead of "Column1."

  • Using vague prompts: A "show me the data" prompt, for example, doesn't give Julius enough context. The request needs specifics. I recommend phrasing questions like "Show me monthly revenue trends for 2024" or "Compare product sales across regions" to give the AI enough information to generate a useful graph.

  • Skipping optional refinements: You can improve your initial graph by adjusting colors, changing chart types, or filtering data through follow-up questions. I refine my charts this way to dial in exactly what I need without starting over.

  • Forgetting to verify the results: AI-generated graphs are as accurate as your data and your questions. Double-check that the visualization shows what you intended. If something looks off, I recommend asking "What data are you showing in this graph?" to confirm Julius interpreted your request correctly.

Julius makes going from data to graph easier with AI

Using AI to go from data to graph cuts down the time you'd spend building charts manually in Excel. With Julius, you can turn spreadsheets and databases into visualizations by asking questions instead of clicking through menus.

Here’s how Julius helps:

  • Built-in visualization: Get histograms, box plots, and bar charts on the spot instead of jumping into another tool to build them.

  • Direct connections: Link databases like Postgres, Snowflake, and BigQuery, or integrate with Google Ads and other business tools. You can also upload CSV or Excel files. Your analysis can reflect live data, so you’re less likely to rely on outdated spreadsheets.

  • Smarter over time: Julius includes a Learning Sub Agent, an AI that adapts to your database structure over time. It learns table relationships and column meanings with each query, delivering more accurate results over time without manual configuration.

  • Recurring summaries: Schedule analyses like weekly revenue or delivery time at the 95th percentile and receive them automatically by email or Slack. This saves you from running the same report manually each week.

  • One-click sharing: Turn a thread of analysis into a PDF report you can pass along without extra formatting.

Ready to use AI to go from data to graph without the manual work? Try Julius for free today.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need coding skills to turn data into graphs using AI?

No, you don’t need coding skills to turn data into graphs using AI. Tools like Julius let you type a question such as “show monthly sales trends,” and they generate the chart for you without requiring you to write code.

Can I create graphs from Excel files using an AI tool like Julius?

Yes, you can create graphs from Excel files using AI tools like Julius. In Julius, you can upload a .xlsx file, preview your tables, and then ask questions about the data to generate charts.

What if my graph doesn't look right when using AI?

If your graph doesn’t look right when using AI, you should first verify how the tool interpreted your question and data. Ask what data the chart is based on to confirm that it selected the correct columns and filters. If the logic looks correct but the output still seems off, check your source file for errors or inconsistencies, such as blank rows or incorrect date formats, then clean the data and try again.

— Your AI for Analyzing Data & Files

Turn hours of wrestling with data into minutes on Julius.

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