diff --git a/monai/apps/auto3dseg/auto_runner.py b/monai/apps/auto3dseg/auto_runner.py
index 2105f051bd..23fb3eb250 100644
--- a/monai/apps/auto3dseg/auto_runner.py
+++ b/monai/apps/auto3dseg/auto_runner.py
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ def inspect_datalist_folds(self, datalist_filename: str) -> int:
 
     def set_gpu_customization(
         self, gpu_customization: bool = False, gpu_customization_specs: dict[str, Any] | None = None
-    ) -> None:
+    ) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set options for GPU-based parameter customization/optimization.
 
@@ -442,7 +442,9 @@ def set_gpu_customization(
         if gpu_customization_specs is not None:
             self.gpu_customization_specs = gpu_customization_specs
 
-    def set_num_fold(self, num_fold: int = 5) -> None:
+        return self
+
+    def set_num_fold(self, num_fold: int = 5) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the number of cross validation folds for all algos.
 
@@ -454,7 +456,9 @@ def set_num_fold(self, num_fold: int = 5) -> None:
             raise ValueError(f"num_fold is expected to be an integer greater than zero. Now it gets {num_fold}")
         self.num_fold = num_fold
 
-    def set_training_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
+        return self
+
+    def set_training_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the training params for all algos.
 
@@ -474,13 +478,15 @@ def set_training_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
                 DeprecationWarning,
             )
 
+        return self
+
     def set_device_info(
         self,
         cuda_visible_devices: list[int] | str | None = None,
         num_nodes: int | None = None,
         mn_start_method: str | None = None,
         cmd_prefix: str | None = None,
-    ) -> None:
+    ) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the device related info
 
@@ -531,7 +537,9 @@ def set_device_info(
         if cmd_prefix is not None:
             logger.info(f"Using user defined command running prefix {cmd_prefix}, will override other settings")
 
-    def set_ensemble_method(self, ensemble_method_name: str = "AlgoEnsembleBestByFold", **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        return self
+
+    def set_ensemble_method(self, ensemble_method_name: str = "AlgoEnsembleBestByFold", **kwargs: Any) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the bundle ensemble method name and parameters for save image transform parameters.
 
@@ -546,7 +554,9 @@ def set_ensemble_method(self, ensemble_method_name: str = "AlgoEnsembleBestByFol
         )
         self.kwargs.update(kwargs)
 
-    def set_image_save_transform(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+        return self
+
+    def set_image_save_transform(self, **kwargs: Any) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the ensemble output transform.
 
@@ -565,7 +575,9 @@ def set_image_save_transform(self, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
                 "Check https://docs.monai.io/en/stable/transforms.html#saveimage for more information."
             )
 
-    def set_prediction_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
+        return self
+
+    def set_prediction_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the prediction params for all algos.
 
@@ -581,7 +593,9 @@ def set_prediction_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
         """
         self.pred_params = deepcopy(params) if params is not None else {}
 
-    def set_analyze_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
+        return self
+
+    def set_analyze_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the data analysis extra params.
 
@@ -595,7 +609,9 @@ def set_analyze_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
         else:
             self.analyze_params = deepcopy(params)
 
-    def set_hpo_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
+        return self
+
+    def set_hpo_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set parameters for the HPO module and the algos before the training. It will attempt to (1) override bundle
         templates with the key-value pairs in ``params`` (2) change the config of the HPO module (e.g. NNI) if the
@@ -621,7 +637,9 @@ def set_hpo_params(self, params: dict[str, Any] | None = None) -> None:
         """
         self.hpo_params = self.train_params if params is None else params
 
-    def set_nni_search_space(self, search_space):
+        return self
+
+    def set_nni_search_space(self, search_space: dict[str, Any]) -> AutoRunner:
         """
         Set the search space for NNI parameter search.
 
@@ -638,6 +656,8 @@ def set_nni_search_space(self, search_space):
         self.search_space = search_space
         self.hpo_tasks = value_combinations
 
+        return self
+
     def _train_algo_in_sequence(self, history: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> None:
         """
         Train the Algos in a sequential scheme. The order of training is randomized.