Exploring Large Language Models for Feature Selection: A Data-centric Perspective
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Abstract (arXiv)
The rapid advancement of Large Language Models (LLMs) has significantly influenced various domains, leveraging their exceptional few-shot and zero-shot learning capabilities. In this work, we aim to explore and understand the LLMs-based feature selection methods from a data-centric perspective. We begin by categorizing existing feature selection methods with LLMs into two groups: data-driven feature selection which requires numerical values of samples to do statistical inference and text-based feature selection which utilizes prior knowledge of LLMs to do semantical associations using descriptive context. We conduct experiments in both classification and regression tasks with LLMs in various sizes (e.g., GPT-4, ChatGPT and LLaMA-2). Our findings emphasize the effectiveness and robustness of text-based feature selection methods and showcase their potentials using a real-world medical application. We also discuss the challenges and future opportunities in employing LLMs for feature selection, offering insights for further research and development in this emerging field.
Key facts. Cited by 27 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026). Builds on 43 of its 75 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 21 Aug 2024.
Builds on
43 of 75 references.
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Citing papers per year: 2024: 4; 2025: 13; 2026: 10.
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- 2025Comprehend, Divide, and Conquer: Feature Subspace Exploration via Multi-Agent Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning24 Apr 2025
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- 2025LLM-Lasso: A Robust Framework for Domain-Informed Feature Selection and Regularization15 Feb 2025
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- 2024From Generation to Judgment: Opportunities and Challenges of LLM-as-a-judge25 Nov 2024
- 2024SELA: Tree-Search Enhanced LLM Agents for Automated Machine Learning22 Oct 2024
- 2024AutoML-Agent: A Multi-Agent LLM Framework for Full-Pipeline AutoML3 Oct 2024
- 2024Knowledge-Driven Feature Selection and Engineering for Genotype Data with Large Language Models2 Oct 2024
- 2024AutoML-Agent: A Multi-Agent LLM Framework for Full-Pipeline AutoMLcited by 87
- 2024SELA: Tree-Search Enhanced LLM Agents for Automated Machine Learningcited by 24
- 2025Large Language Model-based Data Science Agent: A Surveycited by 23
- 2025Comprehend, Divide, and Conquer: Feature Subspace Exploration via Multi-Agent Hierarchical Reinforcement Learningcited by 1
- 2025PartnerMAS: An LLM Hierarchical Multi-Agent Framework for Business Partner Selection on High-Dimensional Featurescited by 0
- 2025LLM-FS-Agent: A Deliberative Role-based Large Language Model Architecture for Transparent Feature Selectioncited by 0
- 2026LLM-Enhanced Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Unified Electric Vehicles-Charging Station-Grid Optimization in Public Charging Systemscited by 0
- 2026LLM-Enhanced Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Unified Electric Vehicles-Charging Station-Grid Optimization in Public Charging Systems12 Sep 2026
- 2025LLM-FS-Agent: A Deliberative Role-based Large Language Model Architecture for Transparent Feature Selection7 Oct 2025
- 2025PartnerMAS: An LLM Hierarchical Multi-Agent Framework for Business Partner Selection on High-Dimensional Features28 Sep 2025
- 2025Large Language Model-based Data Science Agent: A Survey2 Aug 2025
- 2025Comprehend, Divide, and Conquer: Feature Subspace Exploration via Multi-Agent Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning24 Apr 2025
- 2024SELA: Tree-Search Enhanced LLM Agents for Automated Machine Learning22 Oct 2024
- 2024AutoML-Agent: A Multi-Agent LLM Framework for Full-Pipeline AutoML3 Oct 2024
- 2024From Generation to Judgment: Opportunities and Challenges of LLM-as-a-judgecited by 494
- 2025Preference Leakage: A Contamination Problem in LLM-as-a-judgecited by 125
- 2025LLM-Lasso: A Robust Framework for Domain-Informed Feature Selection and Regularizationcited by 10
- 2024Knowledge-Driven Feature Selection and Engineering for Genotype Data with Large Language Modelscited by 9
- 2025AUTOCT: Automating Interpretable Clinical Trial Prediction with LLM Agentscited by 9
- 2025LLMs as World Models: Data-Driven and Human-Centered Pre-Event Simulation for Disaster Impact Assessmentcited by 6
- 2025Learning an Efficient Multi-Turn Dialogue Evaluator from Multiple LLM Judgescited by 3
- 2025LLM4FS: Leveraging Large Language Models for Feature Selectioncited by 2
- 2025Multi-level Diagnosis and Evaluation for Robust Tabular Feature Engineering with Large Language Modelscited by 1
- 2025LAMP: Extracting Local Decision Surfaces From Large Language Modelscited by 0
- 2025DeepFeature: LLM-Empowered Context-aware Feature Generation for Wearable Biosignalscited by 0
- 2026ReToP: Learning to Rewrite Electronic Health Records for Clinical Predictioncited by 0
12 most cited of 18 All 18 (JSON)
- 2026When Does a Classifier Help an LLM? Classifier-Guided Prompting and Hybrid Classifier-LLM Models for Credit-Default Prediction30 Aug 2026
- 2026Feature Generation Using LLMs: An Evolutionary Algorithm Approach27 Jun 2026
- 2026BoolXLLM: LLM-Assisted Explainability for Boolean Models12 May 2026
- 2026Same Input, Different Scores: A Multi Model Study on the Inconsistency of LLM Judge4 Feb 2026
- 2026Hippasus: Effective and Efficient Automatic Feature Augmentation for Machine Learning Tasks on Relational Data2 Feb 2026
- 2026Learning When to Trust LLM Priors: A Validated Framework for Semantic Prior Integration29 Jan 2026
- 2026ReToP: Learning to Rewrite Electronic Health Records for Clinical Prediction27 Jan 2026
- 2025DeepFeature: LLM-Empowered Context-aware Feature Generation for Wearable Biosignals9 Dec 2025
- 2025Multi-level Diagnosis and Evaluation for Robust Tabular Feature Engineering with Large Language Models20 Sep 2025
- 2025Learning an Efficient Multi-Turn Dialogue Evaluator from Multiple LLM Judges1 Aug 2025
- 2025AUTOCT: Automating Interpretable Clinical Trial Prediction with LLM Agents4 Jun 2025
- 2025LLMs as World Models: Data-Driven and Human-Centered Pre-Event Simulation for Disaster Impact Assessment2 Jun 2025
12 newest of 18 All 18 (JSON)