Graph-ToolFormer: To Empower LLMs with Graph Reasoning Ability via Prompt Augmented by ChatGPT
On the map: LLM reasoning → Knowledge- and tool-augmented reasoning
Abstract (arXiv)
In this paper, we aim to develop a large language model (LLM) with the reasoning ability on complex graph data. Currently, LLMs have achieved very impressive performance on various natural language learning tasks, extensions of which have also been applied to study the vision tasks with multi-modal data. However, when it comes to the graph learning tasks, existing LLMs present very serious flaws due to their several inherited weaknesses in performing {multi-step logic reasoning}, {precise mathematical calculation} and {perception about the spatial and temporal factors}. To address such challenges, in this paper, we will investigate the principles, methodologies and algorithms to empower existing LLMs with graph reasoning ability, which will have tremendous impacts on the current research of both LLMs and graph learning. Inspired by the latest ChatGPT and Toolformer models, we propose the Graph-ToolFormer (Graph Reasoning oriented Toolformer) framework to teach LLMs themselves with prompts augmented by ChatGPT to use external graph reasoning API tools. Specifically, we will investigate to teach Graph-ToolFormer to handle various graph data reasoning tasks in this paper, including both (1) very basic graph data loading and graph property reasoning tasks, ranging from simple graph order and size to the graph diameter and periphery, and (2) more advanced reasoning tasks on real-world graph data, such as bibliographic networks, protein molecules, sequential recommender systems, social networks and knowledge graphs.
Key facts. Cited by 78 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in Knowledge- and tool-augmented reasoning, one of 17 directions in LLM reasoning. Builds on 38 of its 71 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 10 Apr 2023.
Builds on
38 of 71 references.
References · 38
- 2017Attention Is All You Needcited by 59,932
- 2018BERT: Pre-training of Deep Bidirectional Transformers for Language Understandingcited by 40,204
- 2020An Image is Worth 16x16 Words: Transformers for Image Recognition at Scalecited by 29,915
- 2023GPT-4 Technical Reportcited by 18,132
- 2022Training language models to follow instructions with human feedbackcited by 15,712
- 2021LoRA: Low-Rank Adaptation of Large Language Modelscited by 14,084
- 2023LLaMA: Open and Efficient Foundation Language Modelscited by 13,958
- 2016Semi-Supervised Classification with Graph Convolutional Networkscited by 11,282
- 2017Graph Attention Networkscited by 8,854
- 2022Hierarchical Text-Conditional Image Generation with CLIP Latentscited by 6,539
- 2019BART: Denoising Sequence-to-Sequence Pre-training for Natural Language Generation, Translation, and Comprehensioncited by 5,874
- 2021Zero-Shot Text-to-Image Generationcited by 4,276
26 more
- 2023Toolformer: Language Models Can Teach Themselves to Use Toolscited by 4,072
- 2021Prefix-Tuning: Optimizing Continuous Prompts for Generationcited by 3,878
- 2018Deep contextualized word representationscited by 2,285
- 2018Deeper Insights into Graph Convolutional Networks for Semi-Supervised Learningcited by 1,099
- 2020Exploiting Cloze Questions for Few Shot Text Classification and Natural Language Inferencecited by 934
- 2023A Multitask, Multilingual, Multimodal Evaluation of ChatGPT on Reasoning, Hallucination, and Interactivitycited by 888
- 2021Are NLP Models really able to Solve Simple Math Word Problems?cited by 861
- 2015Image-based Recommendations on Styles and Substitutescited by 702
- 2020A Survey on Knowledge Graphs: Representation, Acquisition and Applicationscited by 643
- 2019Graph Transformer Networkscited by 520
- 2023Augmented Language Models: a Surveycited by 398
- 20218-bit Optimizers via Block-wise Quantizationcited by 395
- 2019Multi-Task Deep Neural Networks for Natural Language Understandingcited by 349
- 2022Selection-Inference: Exploiting Large Language Models for Interpretable Logical Reasoningcited by 331
- 2021Do Prompt-Based Models Really Understand the Meaning of their Prompts?cited by 324
- 2020GPT-GNN: Generative Pre-Training of Graph Neural Networkscited by 302
- 2021Time-Aware Language Models as Temporal Knowledge Basescited by 290
- 2020Graph-Bert: Only Attention is Needed for Learning Graph Representationscited by 176
- 2015A Survey of Heterogeneous Information Network Analysiscited by 109
- 2019AdaGCN: Adaboosting Graph Convolutional Networks into Deep Modelscited by 37
- 2018Spectral Collaborative Filteringcited by 34
- 2019GResNet: Graph Residual Network for Reviving Deep GNNs from Suspended Animationcited by 21
- 2019Graph Neural Networks for Small Graph and Giant Network Representation Learning: An Overviewcited by 3
- 2020Segmented Graph-Bert for Graph Instance Modelingcited by 3
- 2019Residual or Gate? Towards Deeper Graph Neural Networks for Inductive Graph Representation Learningcited by 2
- 2019DeGNN: Characterizing and Improving Graph Neural Networks with Graph Decompositioncited by 2
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2023: 23; 2024: 30; 2025: 20; 2026: 5.
78 papers.
Sort:
By area:
- 2023Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Large Language Models: A Surveycited by 2,185
- 2024From Local to Global: A Graph RAG Approach to Query-Focused Summarizationcited by 1,411
- 2023SayPlan: Grounding Large Language Models using 3D Scene Graphs for Scalable Robot Task Planningcited by 289
- 2024A Survey on Knowledge Distillation of Large Language Modelscited by 276
- 2023ToolQA: A Dataset for LLM Question Answering with External Toolscited by 273
- 2023Exploring the Potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) in Learning on Graphscited by 271
- 2024Tool Learning with Large Language Models: A Surveycited by 221
- 2023Language is All a Graph Needscited by 219
- 2024G-Retriever: Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Textual Graph Understanding and Question Answeringcited by 217
- 2023GPT4Graph: Can Large Language Models Understand Graph Structured Data ? An Empirical Evaluation and Benchmarkingcited by 209
- 2023Large Language Models on Graphs: A Comprehensive Surveycited by 190
- 2023Recommender Systems in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)cited by 188
38 more
- 2023Harnessing Explanations: LLM-to-LM Interpreter for Enhanced Text-Attributed Graph Representation Learningcited by 132
- 2023Foundational Models Defining a New Era in Vision: A Survey and Outlookcited by 109
- 2023GraphLLM: Boosting Graph Reasoning Ability of Large Language Modelcited by 105
- 2025Agentic Large Language Models, a surveycited by 105
- 2023ToolChain*: Efficient Action Space Navigation in Large Language Models with A* Searchcited by 103
- 2024Demystifying Chains, Trees, and Graphs of Thoughtscited by 63
- 2024InstructGraph: Boosting Large Language Models via Graph-centric Instruction Tuning and Preference Alignmentcited by 56
- 2024A Comprehensive Survey of Foundation Models in Medicinecited by 56
- 2023KnowledGPT: Enhancing Large Language Models with Retrieval and Storage Access on Knowledge Basescited by 52
- 2023Amazon-M2: A Multilingual Multi-locale Shopping Session Dataset for Recommendation and Text Generationcited by 42
- 2023Evaluating Large Language Models on Graphs: Performance Insights and Comparative Analysiscited by 35
- 2024LLMs Meet Multimodal Generation and Editing: A Surveycited by 35
- 2024Graph Machine Learning in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)cited by 33
- 2023Large Language Models as Topological Structure Enhancers for Text-Attributed Graphscited by 27
- 2023Graph Meets LLMs: Towards Large Graph Modelscited by 19
- 2023Holistic Evaluation of GPT-4V for Biomedical Imagingcited by 19
- 2023User Modeling in the Era of Large Language Models: Current Research and Future Directionscited by 18
- 2024A Survey of Large Language Models on Generative Graph Analytics: Query, Learning, and Applicationscited by 17
- 2025GRAPHGPT-O: Synergistic Multimodal Comprehension and Generation on Graphscited by 17
- 2024WildfireGPT: Tailored Large Language Model for Wildfire Analysiscited by 15
- 2024Exploring the Potential of Large Language Models in Graph Generationcited by 15
- 2025Graph RAG-Tool Fusioncited by 15
- 2025Graph2text or Graph2token: A Perspective of Large Language Models for Graph Learningcited by 12
- 2024Can LLMs Understand Computer Networks? Towards a Virtual System Administratorcited by 11
- 2025Exploring Graph Learning Tasks with Pure LLMs: A Comprehensive Benchmark and Investigationcited by 11
- 2024Similarity-based Neighbor Selection for Graph LLMscited by 10
- 2023LLM4Causal: Democratized Causal Tools for Everyone via Large Language Modelcited by 9
- 2024"Don't forget to put the milk back!" Dataset for Enabling Embodied Agents to Detect Anomalous Situationscited by 9
- 2024MaFeRw: Query Rewriting with Multi-Aspect Feedbacks for Retrieval-Augmented Large Language Modelscited by 9
- 2023Testing the Depth of ChatGPT's Comprehension via Cross-Modal Tasks Based on ASCII-Art: GPT3.5's Abilities in Regard to Recognizing and Generating ASCII-Art Are Not Totally Lackingcited by 7
- 2024A Unified Taxonomy-Guided Instruction Tuning Framework for Entity Set Expansion and Taxonomy Expansioncited by 7
- 2024SoAy: A Solution-based LLM API-using Methodology for Academic Information Seekingcited by 7
- 2025GraphChain: Large Language Models for Large-scale Graph Analysis via Tool Chainingcited by 5
- 2024Knowledge Graph Modeling-Driven Large Language Model Operating System (LLM OS) for Task Automation in Process Engineering Problem-Solvingcited by 4
- 2024How to Make LMs Strong Node Classifiers?cited by 4
- 2025GraphRunner: A Multi-Stage Framework for Efficient and Accurate Graph-Based Retrievalcited by 4
- 2025Agentic AI for autonomous anomaly management in complex systemscited by 4
- 2025Actions Speak Louder than Prompts: A Large-Scale Study of LLMs for Graph Inferencecited by 4
50 most cited of 78 All 78 (JSON)
- 2026Are Large Language Models Suitable for Graph Computation? Progress and Prospects5 Jun 2026
- 2026GraphReview: Scientific Paper Evaluation via LLM-based Graph Evidence Expansion26 May 2026
- 2026Riemannian Geometry Speaks Louder Than Words: From Graph Foundation Model to Next-Generation Graph Intelligence23 Mar 2026
- 2026DynamicGTR: Leveraging Graph Topology Representation Preferences to Boost VLM Capabilities on Graph QAs25 Feb 2026
- 2026Topology of Reasoning: Retrieved Cell Complex-Augmented Generation for Textual Graph Question Answering22 Feb 2026
- 2025LLMTM: Benchmarking and Optimizing LLMs for Temporal Motif Analysis in Dynamic Graphs24 Dec 2025
- 2025Agent-as-a-Graph: Knowledge Graph-Based Tool and Agent Retrieval for LLM Multi-Agent Systems22 Nov 2025
- 2025GraphChain: Large Language Models for Large-scale Graph Analysis via Tool Chaining1 Nov 2025
- 2025Can an LLM Induce a Graph? Investigating Memory Drift and Context Length4 Oct 2025
- 2025Actions Speak Louder than Prompts: A Large-Scale Study of LLMs for Graph Inference23 Sep 2025
- 2025Zero-shot Graph Reasoning via Retrieval Augmented Framework with LLMs16 Sep 2025
- 2025Harnessing Adaptive Topology Representations for Zero-Shot Graph Question Answering8 Aug 2025
38 more
- 2025Adversarial Attacks and Defenses on Graph-aware Large Language Models (LLMs)6 Aug 2025
- 2025GeoGR^2:Zero-Shot Geospatial Inference via Geostatistically-Guided Iterative Refinement with LLMs6 Aug 2025
- 2025Augmented Vision-Language Models: A Systematic Review24 Jul 2025
- 2025Agentic AI for autonomous anomaly management in complex systems21 Jul 2025
- 2025GraphRunner: A Multi-Stage Framework for Efficient and Accurate Graph-Based Retrieval11 Jul 2025
- 2025Schema Generation for Large Knowledge Graphs Using Large Language Models4 Jun 2025
- 2025Agentic Large Language Models, a survey29 Mar 2025
- 2025Reviewing Clinical Knowledge in Medical Large Language Models: Training and Beyond28 Feb 2025
- 2025Exploring Graph Learning Tasks with Pure LLMs: A Comprehensive Benchmark and Investigation26 Feb 2025
- 2025GRAPHGPT-O: Synergistic Multimodal Comprehension and Generation on Graphs17 Feb 2025
- 2025LLM4GNAS: A Large Language Model Based Toolkit for Graph Neural Architecture Search12 Feb 2025
- 2025Graph RAG-Tool Fusion11 Feb 2025
- 2025Graph2text or Graph2token: A Perspective of Large Language Models for Graph Learning2 Jan 2025
- 2024Large Language Models Meet Graph Neural Networks: A Perspective of Graph Mining26 Dec 2024
- 2024A Self-guided Multimodal Approach to Enhancing Graph Representation Learning for Alzheimer's Diseases9 Dec 2024
- 2024LLM Augmentations to support Analytical Reasoning over Multiple Documents25 Nov 2024
- 2024How to Make LMs Strong Node Classifiers?3 Oct 2024
- 2024MaFeRw: Query Rewriting with Multi-Aspect Feedbacks for Retrieval-Augmented Large Language Models30 Aug 2024
- 2024Knowledge Graph Modeling-Driven Large Language Model Operating System (LLM OS) for Task Automation in Process Engineering Problem-Solving23 Aug 2024
- 2024Multi-task Prompt Words Learning for Social Media Content Generation10 Jul 2024
- 2024Large Language Models Understand Layout8 Jul 2024
- 2024Think-then-Act: A Dual-Angle Evaluated Retrieval-Augmented Generation18 Jun 2024
- 2024A Comprehensive Survey of Foundation Models in Medicine15 Jun 2024
- 2024Automated Molecular Concept Generation and Labeling with Large Language Models13 Jun 2024
- 2024LLMs Meet Multimodal Generation and Editing: A Survey29 May 2024
- 2024Tool Learning with Large Language Models: A Survey28 May 2024
- 2024SoAy: A Solution-based LLM API-using Methodology for Academic Information Seeking24 May 2024
- 2024From Local to Global: A Graph RAG Approach to Query-Focused Summarization24 Apr 2024
- 2024Graph Machine Learning in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)23 Apr 2024
- 2024A Survey of Large Language Models on Generative Graph Analytics: Query, Learning, and Applications23 Apr 2024
- 2024Can LLMs Understand Computer Networks? Towards a Virtual System Administrator19 Apr 2024
- 2024"Don't forget to put the milk back!" Dataset for Enabling Embodied Agents to Detect Anomalous Situations12 Apr 2024
- 2024Exploring the Potential of Large Language Models in Graph Generation21 Mar 2024
- 2024Embedded Named Entity Recognition using Probing Classifiers18 Mar 2024
- 2024AUTONODE: A Neuro-Graphic Self-Learnable Engine for Cognitive GUI Automation15 Mar 2024
- 2024A Unified Taxonomy-Guided Instruction Tuning Framework for Entity Set Expansion and Taxonomy Expansion20 Feb 2024
- 2024A Survey on Knowledge Distillation of Large Language Models20 Feb 2024
- 2024Towards Versatile Graph Learning Approach: from the Perspective of Large Language Models18 Feb 2024
50 newest of 78 All 78 (JSON)
- 2023Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Large Language Models: A Surveycited by 2,185
- 2023GraphLLM: Boosting Graph Reasoning Ability of Large Language Modelcited by 105
- 2024Demystifying Chains, Trees, and Graphs of Thoughtscited by 63
- 2024InstructGraph: Boosting Large Language Models via Graph-centric Instruction Tuning and Preference Alignmentcited by 56
- 2024Similarity-based Neighbor Selection for Graph LLMscited by 10
- 2024LLM Augmentations to support Analytical Reasoning over Multiple Documentscited by 3
- 2024Think-then-Act: A Dual-Angle Evaluated Retrieval-Augmented Generationcited by 2
- 2025Zero-shot Graph Reasoning via Retrieval Augmented Framework with LLMscited by 1
- 2026Topology of Reasoning: Retrieved Cell Complex-Augmented Generation for Textual Graph Question Answeringcited by 0
- 2026Topology of Reasoning: Retrieved Cell Complex-Augmented Generation for Textual Graph Question Answering22 Feb 2026
- 2025Zero-shot Graph Reasoning via Retrieval Augmented Framework with LLMs16 Sep 2025
- 2024LLM Augmentations to support Analytical Reasoning over Multiple Documents25 Nov 2024
- 2024Think-then-Act: A Dual-Angle Evaluated Retrieval-Augmented Generation18 Jun 2024
- 2024InstructGraph: Boosting Large Language Models via Graph-centric Instruction Tuning and Preference Alignment13 Feb 2024
- 2024Similarity-based Neighbor Selection for Graph LLMs6 Feb 2024
- 2024Demystifying Chains, Trees, and Graphs of Thoughts25 Jan 2024
- 2023Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Large Language Models: A Survey18 Dec 2023
- 2023GraphLLM: Boosting Graph Reasoning Ability of Large Language Model9 Oct 2023
- 2023ToolQA: A Dataset for LLM Question Answering with External Toolscited by 273
- 2024Tool Learning with Large Language Models: A Surveycited by 221
- 2025Agentic Large Language Models, a surveycited by 105
- 2023LLM4Causal: Democratized Causal Tools for Everyone via Large Language Modelcited by 9
- 2024"Don't forget to put the milk back!" Dataset for Enabling Embodied Agents to Detect Anomalous Situationscited by 9
- 2025Agentic AI for autonomous anomaly management in complex systemscited by 4
- 2025Agent-as-a-Graph: Knowledge Graph-Based Tool and Agent Retrieval for LLM Multi-Agent Systemscited by 4
- 2025Agent-as-a-Graph: Knowledge Graph-Based Tool and Agent Retrieval for LLM Multi-Agent Systems22 Nov 2025
- 2025Agentic AI for autonomous anomaly management in complex systems21 Jul 2025
- 2025Agentic Large Language Models, a survey29 Mar 2025
- 2024Tool Learning with Large Language Models: A Survey28 May 2024
- 2024"Don't forget to put the milk back!" Dataset for Enabling Embodied Agents to Detect Anomalous Situations12 Apr 2024
- 2023LLM4Causal: Democratized Causal Tools for Everyone via Large Language Model28 Dec 2023
- 2023ToolQA: A Dataset for LLM Question Answering with External Tools23 Jun 2023
- 2024From Local to Global: A Graph RAG Approach to Query-Focused Summarizationcited by 1,411
- 2024G-Retriever: Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Textual Graph Understanding and Question Answeringcited by 217
- 2025Graph RAG-Tool Fusioncited by 15
- 2024MaFeRw: Query Rewriting with Multi-Aspect Feedbacks for Retrieval-Augmented Large Language Modelscited by 9
- 2025GraphRunner: A Multi-Stage Framework for Efficient and Accurate Graph-Based Retrievalcited by 4
- 2025GraphRunner: A Multi-Stage Framework for Efficient and Accurate Graph-Based Retrieval11 Jul 2025
- 2025Graph RAG-Tool Fusion11 Feb 2025
- 2024MaFeRw: Query Rewriting with Multi-Aspect Feedbacks for Retrieval-Augmented Large Language Models30 Aug 2024
- 2024From Local to Global: A Graph RAG Approach to Query-Focused Summarization24 Apr 2024
- 2024G-Retriever: Retrieval-Augmented Generation for Textual Graph Understanding and Question Answering12 Feb 2024
- 2025GRAPHGPT-O: Synergistic Multimodal Comprehension and Generation on Graphscited by 17
- 2026DynamicGTR: Leveraging Graph Topology Representation Preferences to Boost VLM Capabilities on Graph QAscited by 4
- 2025Harnessing Adaptive Topology Representations for Zero-Shot Graph Question Answeringcited by 1
- 2025Augmented Vision-Language Models: A Systematic Reviewcited by 0
- 2026DynamicGTR: Leveraging Graph Topology Representation Preferences to Boost VLM Capabilities on Graph QAs25 Feb 2026
- 2025Harnessing Adaptive Topology Representations for Zero-Shot Graph Question Answering8 Aug 2025
- 2025Augmented Vision-Language Models: A Systematic Review24 Jul 2025
- 2025GRAPHGPT-O: Synergistic Multimodal Comprehension and Generation on Graphs17 Feb 2025
- 2023SayPlan: Grounding Large Language Models using 3D Scene Graphs for Scalable Robot Task Planningcited by 289
- 2024A Survey on Knowledge Distillation of Large Language Modelscited by 276
- 2023Exploring the Potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) in Learning on Graphscited by 271
- 2023Language is All a Graph Needscited by 219
- 2023GPT4Graph: Can Large Language Models Understand Graph Structured Data ? An Empirical Evaluation and Benchmarkingcited by 209
- 2023Large Language Models on Graphs: A Comprehensive Surveycited by 190
- 2023Recommender Systems in the Era of Large Language Models (LLMs)cited by 188
- 2023Harnessing Explanations: LLM-to-LM Interpreter for Enhanced Text-Attributed Graph Representation Learningcited by 132
- 2023Foundational Models Defining a New Era in Vision: A Survey and Outlookcited by 109
- 2023ToolChain*: Efficient Action Space Navigation in Large Language Models with A* Searchcited by 103
- 2024A Comprehensive Survey of Foundation Models in Medicinecited by 56
- 2023KnowledGPT: Enhancing Large Language Models with Retrieval and Storage Access on Knowledge Basescited by 52
12 most cited of 53 All 53 (JSON)
- 2026Are Large Language Models Suitable for Graph Computation? Progress and Prospects5 Jun 2026
- 2026GraphReview: Scientific Paper Evaluation via LLM-based Graph Evidence Expansion26 May 2026
- 2026Riemannian Geometry Speaks Louder Than Words: From Graph Foundation Model to Next-Generation Graph Intelligence23 Mar 2026
- 2025LLMTM: Benchmarking and Optimizing LLMs for Temporal Motif Analysis in Dynamic Graphs24 Dec 2025
- 2025GraphChain: Large Language Models for Large-scale Graph Analysis via Tool Chaining1 Nov 2025
- 2025Can an LLM Induce a Graph? Investigating Memory Drift and Context Length4 Oct 2025
- 2025Actions Speak Louder than Prompts: A Large-Scale Study of LLMs for Graph Inference23 Sep 2025
- 2025Adversarial Attacks and Defenses on Graph-aware Large Language Models (LLMs)6 Aug 2025
- 2025GeoGR^2:Zero-Shot Geospatial Inference via Geostatistically-Guided Iterative Refinement with LLMs6 Aug 2025
- 2025Schema Generation for Large Knowledge Graphs Using Large Language Models4 Jun 2025
- 2025Reviewing Clinical Knowledge in Medical Large Language Models: Training and Beyond28 Feb 2025
- 2025Exploring Graph Learning Tasks with Pure LLMs: A Comprehensive Benchmark and Investigation26 Feb 2025
12 newest of 53 All 53 (JSON)
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2024Can LLMs perform structured graph reasoning?
- 2024Graph Reasoning with Large Language Models via Pseudo-code Prompting
- 2025Rethinking and Benchmarking Large Language Models for Graph Reasoning
- 2025Less is More: Learning Graph Tasks with Just LLMs
- 2023GraphReason: Enhancing Reasoning Capabilities of Large Language Models through A Graph-Based Verification Approach
- 2024CodeGraph: Enhancing Graph Reasoning of LLMs with Code
- 2025Learn to Think: Bootstrapping LLM Reasoning Capability Through Graph Representation Learning
- 2024GraphTool-Instruction: Revolutionizing Graph Reasoning in LLMs through Decomposed Subtask Instruction