AI Coding Assistants for Data Analysis.
If you're someone who regularly works with code—whether it's Python, R, SQL, or another programming language for data analysis or workflow automation —AI coding assistants are tools you should seriously consider adding to your tech stack. Even if you’re a complete beginner, AI tools like GitHub Copilot, Gemini, and Codeium can help you write code completely from scratch, even if you have little to no coding experience. These assistants not only make you more productive but also help you learn faster and unlock new possibilities in your work.
The Benefits of Using AI Coding Assistants
Many people are already familiar with general AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini to help them generate code, document it, or troubleshoot bugs. However, one of the most significant advantages of AI coding assistants (aka Copilots) comes when they are integrated directly into your Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
Why? It’s all about context. When you use an AI assistant inside your IDE, it knows exactly what you're working on—your data, your code, even the errors you're encountering. This deeper understanding allows the assistant to make better recommendations for improving your code or debugging it. Plus, having the assistant within your coding environment saves you the hassle of jumping between windows or writing out lengthy prompts to explain what you're working on.
Which AI Coding Assistant Should You Use?
Choosing the right AI coding assistant depends largely on the IDE or platform you use. Here are some of the most popular options:
GitHub Copilot: Integrated with a wide range of IDEs, such as R Studio, Jupyter Notebooks, PyCharm, and VS Code, GitHub Copilot is one of the most popular AI assistants out there. It's especially useful if you're working across different programming languages.
Codeium: Another solid option that works with various popular IDEs, offering both free and paid versions. Codeium is user-friendly and versatile.
Tabnine: Like Codeium, Tabnine also offers a free version and integrates with several IDEs. It’s known for its speed and effectiveness in code suggestions.
built-in tools (see below)
In addition to these standalone tools, some data platforms come with their own AI coding assistants. For example, Google Colab has a built-in assistant, Gemini, and Snowflake also includes coding assistance. These platform-specific assistants are tailored to work seamlessly within their ecosystems, providing an even smoother experience for users.
Pricing Options
Both Codeium and Tabnine offer free tiers, which makes them accessible to almost anyone. On the other hand, GitHub Copilot is a paid tool at $10 per month—this is the one I personally use, as I find its features and integrations well worth the price. I also regularly use the Gemini AI coding assistant built into Google Colab, especially when working on Python projects.
Watch the Video
If you want to see AI coding assistants in action, then I suggest you watch the video at the top of this page.