AI assistants can speed up data analysis considerably, from writing SQL to explaining results.
Useful Tasks
- Writing and explaining SQL queries.
- Generating pandas or R code.
- Suggesting analyses and charts.
- Cleaning and reshaping data.
- Summarising findings in plain language.
- Explaining statistical methods.
Code Execution
Assistants that run code on your data can analyse files directly. This is more reliable than asking a model to calculate in text.
Provide Context
Share table schemas, column meanings, business definitions and sample rows. Ambiguous definitions — what counts as an "active user"? — cause wrong answers.
Check the Work
- Review generated queries for logic errors, especially joins and filters.
- Validate results against known figures.
- Watch for silently dropped rows and double counting.
- Question surprising results.
Data Protection
Don't upload sensitive data to unapproved tools. Use approved environments or share schemas without data.
Analyst Judgement
Assistants accelerate mechanics; framing questions and interpreting results remain human responsibilities.