4 August 2026

Large Language Models (LLMs) are transforming how we write, explain, and debug R code. This hands-on workshop introduces the ecosystem of LLM-based tools for R and demonstrates how to integrate them directly into your data analysis workflows.
Participants will learn to use LLMs to generate, edit, document, and troubleshoot R code — boosting productivity, creativity, and reproducibility in their research.

Researchers, data analysts, and R users with basic R programming experience.
No prior knowledge of LLMs is required.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Integrate LLM-based tools into R-based data analysis pipelines
• Generate, edit, document, and troubleshoot R code quickly and accurately
• Clean, transform, and visualize data with assistance from LLMs
• Interact with model APIs from the R console and their preferred IDE

4th August;  1-6 PM Berlin time

1. Introduction

Introduction to what LLMs can do for R users

Responsible and reproducible use of AI tools

Overview of cloud-based and local model options

2. Setup and Integration

Understanding APIs, tokens, and model access

Configuring LLM assistants in RStudio and Positron

Minimizing context switching with integrated tools

3. LLM-Assisted Coding and Visualization

Generating and editing R code with model support

Creating and styling data visualizations using natural language prompts

4. Advanced Use Cases

Extracting structured data from PDFs using ellmer

Demonstrating practical examples of agents in coding workflows

5. Wrap-up and Discussion

Best practices for efficient, ethical, and reproducible use of LLMs in R

Q&A and participant reflections

"The direct plugin for R that edits code right in the RStudio window was amazingly helpful for me. I normally spend a lot of time trying to fix small errors or change small bits of my code, but this revolutionizes the way I work in R. "

"Very up-to-date and fresh, I am glad that, in addition to various tools and plugins, I also learned about Positron, which will become increasingly important."

"I really enjoyed the course! It was fascinating to see how Large Language Models (LLMs) can be integrated directly into R workflows. The balance between conceptual understanding and hands-on application made it both engaging and practical."