Types of Agents
1. Simple Reflex Agents
Simple reflex agents act solely based on the current percept
and, percept history (record of past perceptions) is ignored by these
agents. Agent function is defined by condition-action rules.
A condition-action rule maps a state (condition) to an action.
If the condition is true, the associated action is performed.
If the condition is false, no action is taken.
Simple reflex agents are effective in environments that are fully
observable (where the current percept gives all needed information about
the environment). In partially observable environments, simple reflex
agents may encounter infinite loops because they do not consider the
history of previous percepts. Infinite loops might be avoided if the agent
can randomize its actions, introducing some variability in its behavior.
Simple Reflex Agents
2. Model-Based Reflex Agents
Model-based reflex agents finds a rule whose condition matches the
current situation or percept. It uses a model of the world to handle
situations where the environment is only partially observable.
The agent tracks its internal state, which is adjusted based on each
new percept.
The internal state depends on the percept history (the history of what
the agent has perceived so far).
The agent stores the current state internally, maintaining a structure that
represents the parts of the world that cannot be directly seen or
perceived. The process of updating the agent’s state requires information
about:
How the world evolves independently from the agent?
How the agent's actions affect the world?
Model-Based Reflex Agents
3. Goal-Based Agents
Goal-based agents make decisions based on their current distance from
the goal and every action the agent aims to reduce the distance from goal.
They can choose from multiple possibilities, selecting the one that best
leads to the goal state.
Knowledge that supports the agent's decisions is represented explicitly,
meaning it's clear and structured. It can also be modified, allowing for
adaptability.
The ability to modify the knowledge makes these agents more flexible
in different environments or situations.
Goal-based agents typically require search and planning to determine the
best course of action.
Goal-Based Agents
4. Utility-Based Agents
Utility-based agents are designed to make decisions that optimize their
performance by evaluating the preferences (or utilities) for each possible
state. These agents assess multiple alternatives and choose the one that
maximizes their utility, which is a measure of how desirable or "happy" a
state is for the agent.
Achieving the goal is not always sufficient; for example, the agent
might prefer a quicker, safer, or cheaper way to reach a destination.
The utility function is essential for capturing this concept, mapping
each state to a real number that reflects the agent’s happiness or
satisfaction with that state.
Since the world is often uncertain, utility-based agents choose actions that
maximize expected utility, ensuring they make the most favorable decision
under uncertain conditions.
Utility-Based Agents
5. Learning Agent
A learning agent in AI is the type of agent that can learn from its past
experiences or it has learning capabilities. It starts to act with basic
knowledge and then is able to act and adapt automatically through
learning. A learning agent has mainly four conceptual components, which
are:
1. Learning element: It is responsible for making improvements by
learning from the environment.
2. Critic: The learning element takes feedback from critics which
describes how well the agent is doing with respect to a fixed
performance standard.
3. Performance element: It is responsible for selecting external action.
4. Problem Generator: This component is responsible for suggesting
actions that will lead to new and informative experiences.
Learning Agent
6. Multi-Agent Systems
Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) consists of multiple interacting agents
working together to achieve a common goal. These agents can be
autonomous or semi-autonomous, capable of perceiving their
environment, making decisions, and taking action.
MAS can be classified into:
Homogeneous MAS: Agents have the same capabilities, goals, and
behaviors.
Heterogeneous MAS: Agents have different capabilities, goals, and
behaviors, leading to more complex but flexible systems.
Cooperative MAS: Agents work together to achieve a common goal.
Competitive MAS: Agents work against each other for their own goals.
MAS can be implemented using game theory, machine learning, and
agent-based modeling.
7. Hierarchical Agents
Hierarchical Agents are organized into a hierarchy, with high-level agents
overseeing the behavior of lower-level agents. The high-level agents
provide goals and constraints, while the low-level agents carry out specific
tasks. They are useful in complex environments with many tasks and sub-
tasks.
This structure is beneficial in complex systems with many tasks and sub-
tasks, such as robotics, manufacturing, and transportation. Hierarchical
agents allow for efficient decision-making and resource allocation,
improving system performance. In such systems, high-level agents set
goals, and low-level agents execute tasks to achieve those goals.
Uses of Agents
Agents are used in a wide range of applications in artificial intelligence,
including:
Robotics: Agents can be used to control robots and automate tasks in
manufacturing, transportation, and other industries.
Smart homes and buildings: Agents can be used to control heating,
lighting, and other systems in smart homes and buildings, optimizing
energy use and improving comfort.
Transportation systems: Agents can be used to manage traffic flow,
optimize routes for autonomous vehicles, and improve logistics and
supply chain management.
Healthcare: Agents can be used to monitor patients, provide
personalized treatment plans, and optimize healthcare resource
allocation.
Finance: Agents can be used for automated trading, fraud detection,
and risk management in the financial industry.
Games: Agents can be used to create intelligent opponents in games
and simulations, providing a more challenging and realistic experience
for players.
