A Survey on Large Language Model-based Agents for Statistics and Data Science

Maojun Sun, Ruijian Han, Binyan Jiang, Houduo Qi, Defeng Sun, Yancheng Yuan and Jian Huang

The American Statistician, 2026, vol. 80, issue 3, 331-344

Abstract: In recent years, data science agents powered by Large Language Models (LLMs), known as “data agents,” have shown significant potential to transform the traditional data analysis paradigm. This survey provides an overview of the evolution, capabilities, and applications of LLM-based data agents, highlighting their role in simplifying complex data tasks and lowering the entry barrier for users without related expertise. We explore current trends in the design of LLM-based frameworks, detailing essential features such as planning, reasoning, reflection, multi-agent collaboration, user interface, knowledge integration, and system design, which enable agents to address data-centric problems with minimal human intervention. Furthermore, we analyze several case studies to demonstrate the practical applications of various data agents in real-world scenarios. Finally, we identify key challenges and propose future research directions to advance the development of data agents into intelligent statistical analysis software.

Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1080/00031305.2025.2561140

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