Publication
A Vision for Autonomous Data Agent Collaboration: From Query-by-Integration to Query-by-Collaboration
Timo Eckmann; Carsten Binnig
In: 16th Conference on Innovative Data Systems Research, CIDR 2026, Chaminade, CA, USA, January 18-21, 2026. Conference on Innovative Data Systems Research (CIDR), Pages 1-7, www.cidrdb.org, 2026.
Abstract
In this paper, we present a vision for autonomous data agent col-
laboration, where complex queries are no longer executed through
a single centralized query plan, but instead resolved through a
dynamic protocol among intelligent agents—each serving as an
autonomous interface to a distinct data source. This decentralized
approach eliminates the need for traditional data integration by
allowing agents to reason locally while collaboratively contributing
to global query results. As a core contribution toward realizing this
vision, we introduce key design principles for such systems and
outline the foundations of a Query Collaboration Protocol (QCP) to
enable decentralized, autonomous query answering across indepen-
dent and potentially noisy data sources. In our initial experiments
with a prototype system, QCP-DB, we demonstrate that it can answer
complex queries over heterogeneous databases with accuracy com-
parable to that of fully integrated centralized systems—yet without
incurring the cost and complexity of data integration.