
4 Discussions
The ChatGPT is a fantastic tool that anyone who
understands its use will find helpful. However, it is
not without its limitations. Its use can only be
productive when its user has full knowledge of
what they intend to achieve with it.
In this study, ChatGPT’s prowess in data analysis
was examined. Using ChatGPT 3.5, the analyst
must make several promptings before it can
understand instructions, and at times, it generates
wrong outputs and misleading results. However,
ChatGPT 4.0 can generate the correct response.
When asked to analyse data, a lot of discrepancies
were noticed. The outputs it generated were mostly
erroneous; it had to be queried and prompted
severally before it could generate the correct
outputs. The ChatGPT itself submitted that the
service of a human data analyst would be required
to validate any result it produces. This is because at
some points in time, after several promptings and
queries, it could still not respond correctly. When
asked to generate codes to test assumptions of the
MLR model, it took a lot of effort to get it to
generate the needed codes, the codes it could not
even execute. How about writing a conclusion? It’s
a no for ChatGPT.
The peak of our findings in this study is the
submission of ChatGPT with respect to the need for
human Statistical analysts. In its words, after a
query due to its failure to perform a task as
expected, it responded, ‘I can offer guidance on
various topics, including data analysis, but it is
important to note that the final responsibility for
data analysis and interpretation rests with the user.
It’s always recommended to consult a qualified
human data analyst or Statistician to ensure
accurate and reliable results for complex data
analysis tasks.” Therefore, we may conclude that
ChatGPT will not be able to replace human data
analysts. The tool may come handy to data analysts
when stuck on what to do but should never be
considered an authority in statistical decisions.
Although ChatGPT may not be efficient for
data analysis, it can still be helpful by offering
valuable suggestions and writing codes. However,
it is essential that the analyst thoroughly checks
these suggestions and codes before adopting them.
Human data analysts need not fear losing their jobs
anytime soon; instead, they should focus on
enhancing their data analysis knowledge. This will
enable them to discern the correct approaches from
the incorrect ones, ensuring their continued
relevance and success in their field. This is
consistent with the submission of Ausat et al.
(2023), who submitted that ChatGPT can be used
as a tool in the learning process and not a substitute
for the role of the teacher in the classroom.
The ChatGPT may appear to be a valuable tool
for data analysis. However, it is referred to as a tool
for a reason, indicating that only individuals with
mastery of the tool can utilize it for optimal results.
It is undeniable that GPT is faster and can operate
at incredible speed when analyzing data compared
to humans.
Nevertheless, it remains reliant on humans as it
can only generate codes and offer suggestions for
data analysis, unable to perform any data analysis
independently. This signifies that human data
analysts are still irreplaceable in the field of data
analysis. Sometimes, ChatGPT can even produce
erroneous codes and provide incorrect suggestions
when asked for help. Data analysis with the tool
will always require the service of an expert in most
cases, [22].
5 Conclusion
This study has established that the role of ChatGPT
in data analysis is incredibly crucial, serving as a
valuable tool for knowledgeable data analysts. It
provides a natural language interface, making it
easier for analysts to ask questions, aiding in data
exploration, cleaning, and pre-processing.
Additionally, ChatGPT can explain complex
concepts in data analysis and provide information
in domain-specific knowledge.
However, to maximize its potential in data
analysis and interpretation for decision-making in
various domains of life, the expertise of a
knowledgeable and experienced Statistical Analyst
is necessary. This study has also revealed the
weaknesses and limitations of ChatGPT,
particularly when used by novices in the field of
Statistics.
The requirement for statistical knowledge,
critical thinking, ethical awareness, continuous
learning, and effective communication skills to
convey complex findings in a clear and
understandable manner to non-technical
stakeholders in data analysis can only be fulfilled
by human analysts. Therefore, we can infer that the
introduction of ChatGPT has enhanced the
efficiency and speed of a Data Analyst's job,
especially for those with a solid grasp of theoretical
statistics. This tool simplifies the analysis process
for them, providing a valuable resource when they
encounter challenges in statistical analysis.
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on COMPUTERS
DOI: 10.37394/23205.2024.23.3
Abiola Timothy Owolabi, Oluwaseyi Oluwadamilare Okunlola,
Emmanuel Taiwo Adewuyi,
Janet Iyabo Idowu, Olasunkanmi James Oladapo