# Data Agents: Levels, State of the Art, and Open Problems

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.04261 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.04261/

## Key facts

- Cited by 4 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 4 Feb 2026.

## Built on by (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [LLMs+Graphs: Toward Graph-Native, Synergistic AI Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.11560/) (2026)
- [Data Agents: Agentic Data Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.24137/) (2026)
- [Towards Reliable AI Data Scientists: Data Agents with Workflow Harnesses](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.35255/) (2026)
- [ML Engineering Agents - A Data Management Perspective](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.16919/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Data agents are an emerging paradigm that leverages large language models (LLMs) and tool-using agents to automate data management, preparation, and analysis tasks. However, the term "data agent" is currently used inconsistently, conflating simple query responsive assistants with aspirational fully autonomous "data scientists". This ambiguity blurs capability boundaries and accountability, making it difficult for users, system builders, and regulators to reason about what a "data agent" can and cannot do. In this tutorial, we propose the first hierarchical taxonomy of data agents from Level 0 (L0, no autonomy) to Level 5 (L5, full autonomy). Building on this taxonomy, we will introduce a lifecycleand level-driven view of data agents. We will (1) present the L0-L5 taxonomy and the key evolutionary leaps that separate simple assistants from truly autonomous data agents, (2) review representative L0-L2 systems across data management, preparation, and analysis, (3) highlight emerging Proto-L3 systems that strive to autonomously orchestrate end-to-end data workflows to tackle diverse and comprehensive data-related tasks under supervision, and (4) discuss forward-looking research challenges towards proactive (L4) and generative (L5) data agents. We aim to offer both a practical map of today's systems and a research roadmap for the next decade of data-agent development.