TL04: The New Realities of Statistical Consulting and Collaboration in the Age of AI

Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 

The rapid adoption of AI tools, such as large language models and automated analytics platforms, is transforming collaborative statistical practice. While AI streamlines coding, exploratory analysis, and documentation, it does not replace statistical judgment, problem formulation, or professional accountability. Instead, AI has shifted the distribution of effort, expertise, and risk within collaborative projects. This roundtable will explore how collaborative statistical work is evolving with AI, drawing on participants' experiences in consulting, team science, and applied research. Discussion topics include changes in workflows, collaborator expectations, and project scoping; tasks that have become faster or more complex; and methods for validating, documenting, and taking responsibility for AI-assisted analyses. The session will highlight effective AI–statistician partnerships and cautionary examples where AI can mislead without proper oversight. Participants will also address managing AI-generated results from collaborators, communicating uncertainty and rigor, and defining successful statistical collaboration as AI becomes more integrated into practice.

Collaborative statistical practice

Statistical consulting

Professional accountability

Statistical judgment

Artificial intelligence 

Section on Statistical Consulting