Tech Talk: AI in Statistical Analysis: Opportunities, Limitations and Best Practices
Thursday October 1, 2026 from 12:00-1:00pm
Virtual Teams Presentation
Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models and generative AI, is rapidly transforming statistical analysis and research. AI can assist with data preparation, exploratory analysis, selection and implementation of statistical methods, generation and debugging of statistical code, visualization, interpretation, and reporting. Emerging evidence demonstrates substantial opportunities to improve efficiency and expand the capabilities of statistical practice. However, producing statistically plausible results is not necessarily equivalent to conducting sound statistical analysis. AI may recommend inappropriate methods, generate incorrect code or information, overlook assumptions and study design, and produce convincing but unsupported interpretations.
This talk will examine both the opportunities and limitations of AI through practical examples of statistical methods and applications, with particular attention being given to validation, reproducibility, transparency, and human oversight. A practical framework for responsible AI- assisted statistical analysis will be presented, emphasizing the integration of AI capabilities with statistical principles, subject-matter knowledge, independent verification, and human judgment.
Meet the Speaker
Zugui Zhang, PhD
Director of Biostatistics,
ChristianaCare
Dr. Zugui Zhang is director of biostatistics at iREACH, ChristianaCare and Fellow of American Heart Association. He received an MS in statistics from Arizona State University and his PhD in biostatistics from the University of Iowa. He joined ChristianaCare in 2007 and has been Director of Biostatistics since 2017. He holds appointments as Affiliated Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Delaware and Thomas Jefferson University. He has worked extensively on large, international, multi-center, randomized clinical trials and observational studies.
Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 231 587 498 948 724
Passcode: Hu3Wu2GV
To receive instructions on obtaining (1) CME credit for attendance, please RSVP to Debra.Reese@ChristianaCare.org.
Work supported by an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under grant number U54-GM104941 (PI:Hicks) and the State of Delaware.