# On the Design of AI-powered Code Assistants for Notebooks

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.11178 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2301.11178/

## Key facts

- Cited by 28 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 26 Jan 2023.

## Built on by (most cited first, 28 of 28)

- [OpenAgents: An Open Platform for Language Agents in the Wild](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.10634/) (2023)
- [Synthetic Data Generation with Large Language Models for Text Classification: Potential and Limitations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.07849/) (2023)
- [A Large-Scale Survey on the Usability of AI Programming Assistants: Successes and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.17125/) (2023)
- [PromptCharm: Text-to-Image Generation through Multi-modal Prompting and Refinement](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.04014/) (2024)
- [WaitGPT: Monitoring and Steering Conversational LLM Agent in Data Analysis with On-the-Fly Code Visualization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.01703/) (2024)
- [Assistance or Disruption? Exploring and Evaluating the Design and Trade-offs of Proactive AI Programming Support](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.18658/) (2025)
- [Improving Steering and Verification in AI-Assisted Data Analysis with Interactive Task Decomposition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.02651/) (2024)
- [Learning Agent-based Modeling with LLM Companions: Experiences of Novices and Experts Using ChatGPT & NetLogo Chat](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.17163/) (2024)
- [Data Formulator 2: Iterative Creation of Data Visualizations, with AI Transforming Data Along the Way](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.16119/) (2024)
- [Position: Towards Bidirectional Human-AI Alignment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.09264/) (2024)
- [BISCUIT: Scaffolding LLM-Generated Code with Ephemeral UIs in Computational Notebooks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.07387/) (2024)
- [Synthetic Data Generation with Large Language Models for Personalized Community Question Answering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.22182/) (2024)
- [Why is AI not a Panacea for Data Workers? An Interview Study on Human-AI Collaboration in Data Storytelling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.08366/) (2023)
- [VTutor: An Open-Source SDK for Generative AI-Powered Animated Pedagogical Agents with Multi-Media Output](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.04103/) (2025)
- [Data Analysis in the Era of Generative AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.18475/) (2024)
- [Human-AI Experience in Integrated Development Environments: A Systematic Literature Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.06195/) (2025)
- [Hookpad Aria: A Copilot for Songwriters](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.08122/) (2025)
- ["My productivity is boosted, but ..." Demystifying Users' Perception on AI Coding Assistants](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.12285/) (2025)
- [ALMAS: an Autonomous LLM-based Multi-Agent Software Engineering Framework](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.03463/) (2025)
- [SuperNOVA: Design Strategies and Opportunities for Interactive Visualization in Computational Notebooks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.03039/) (2023)
- [Untangling Knots: Leveraging LLM for Error Resolution in Computational Notebooks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.01559/) (2024)
- ["With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility!": Student and Instructor Perspectives on the influence of LLMs on Undergraduate Engineering Education](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.10694/) (2023)
- [Natural Language based Context Modeling and Reasoning for Ubiquitous Computing with Large Language Models: A Tutorial](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.15074/) (2023)
- [HiLDe: Intentional Code Generation via Human-in-the-Loop Decoding](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.22906/) (2025)
- [Predicting the Understandability of Computational Notebooks through Code Metrics Analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.10989/) (2024)
- [From Adoption to Deployment: A Qualitative Study on AI Integration in Software Development Practice](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.16660/) (2026)
- [From Overload to Insights: How AI Agents Can Support Scientists in Analyzing Complex Data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.16845/) (2026)
- [Point, Revise, Review: Grounded Agentic Analysis in Reactive Notebooks with marimo-lens](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.19839/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

AI-powered code assistants, such as Copilot, are quickly becoming a ubiquitous component of contemporary coding contexts. Among these environments, computational notebooks, such as Jupyter, are of particular interest as they provide rich interface affordances that interleave code and output in a manner that allows for both exploratory and presentational work. Despite their popularity, little is known about the appropriate design of code assistants in notebooks. We investigate the potential of code assistants in computational notebooks by creating a design space (reified from a survey of extant tools) and through an interview-design study (with 15 practicing data scientists). Through this work, we identify challenges and opportunities for future systems in this space, such as the value of disambiguation for tasks like data visualization, the potential of tightly scoped domain-specific tools (like linters), and the importance of polite assistants.