I also doubt that there will have to be no theory. While you can analyze huge datasets and look for correlations, you probably need a theory to give you an idea

I also doubt that there will have to be no theory. While you can analyze huge datasets and look for correlations, you probably need a theory to give you an idea of what data you should collect. Imagine if you tried to build the Large Hadron Collider without any particle physics theory to guide you in the design? How do you decide how to build it and what you should look for? If you build it on a hunch, you might stumble onto some really interesting things, but in most cases it will probably be an expensive collection of nothing special...