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This book delves into the very core of our digital existence, unearthing the essence of a digital persona. It's a realm where authenticity meets multiplicity, as we decipher the nuanced art of crafting and managing our online identities. We confront issues of privacy and ethics, exploring the profound impact of our digital footprints on our lives and society. The integration of AI paves the way for an intriguing future, with predictions that challenge our understanding of self in the digital age. Welcome to a world where your digital personality is more than just data; it's a reflection of who you are and who you can be. The main goal of this book is to enable more seamless and natural human–computer interaction. This will provide better personalized experience. Further, this will influence the performance of the user, wherein they will have the support of the machines to achieve their tasks in the most efficient way. This book is the first of a kind in introducing Digital Personality. It provides an overview of the character dimensions and how state-of-the-art technologies would accommodate such a research field. It includes novel representation of character from various perspectives. It also provides instances of applications of this emerging research field.

There are many myths and mistakes which make the topics of artificial intelligence complex and confusing. But the truth is that the foundations of AI are not rocket science. People do not need a PhD to understand how a basic neural network works. In fact, one does not even need computer skills to learn this.Cunning Machines: Your Pocket Guide to the World of Artificial Intelligence explains the main concepts: what does AI really mean, where do we find it, how do scientists try to evaluate it, what are its main limitations and what future we can expect with it? It also describes the most popular AI techniques in an easy-to-digest form: Artificial neural networks Genetic algorithms The Monte Carlo method Natural language processing Ontologies and their applications This book is for everyone. Still, it may be especially valuable to teachers who wish to enrich their classes with some interesting and popular topics, sales managers and business analysts who wish to better understand the IT world, and finally politicians and journalists who take part in debates on the latest technologies.Jędrzej Osiński earned a PhD in artificial intelligence, has worked on government grants and has published 14 scientific papers to date. He is also the co-author of two books. At the same time, he has over ten years of experience working in IT companies of different sizes, domains (the web, telecoms, banking, e-learning), organisation structures and locations (Poland, Ireland and the UK). He is also involved in various initiatives promoting AI, science and modern technologies including blog posts, invited talks and TV and radio appearances

Intelligent information technologies are continuing to be utilized by a number of organizations to improve productivity. While a large amount of progress has been made, a number of issues still remain unexplored regarding the design and implementation of multi-agent systems for support of organization efficiency. Organizational Efficiency through Intelligent Information Technologies explores various aspects of design and development of intelligent technologies by bringing together the latest in research in the fields of information systems, intelligent agents, collaborative works, and much more. This reference source also highlights insights on agent-based problem solving as well as economic issues and organizational impact.

This book is a translation ofthe accomplishment ofthe French engineer Ammar Attoui, who has set out to bring together the works of computer scientists and automotive engineers. Computer scientists have worked on the same type of systems as automotive engineers, but have used different designs, methods and tools. The former call the resultant systems'real-time systems', and the latter call them'discontinuous event systems'. Today, telecommunications systems of increasing performance, and increasingly powerful multi-task operating and real­ time systems offer the possibilities of the development of distributed structure applications organized in a group ofasynchronous entities which communicate by the exchange of messages and events. Hence, combining the cultures ofcomputer science and automotive engineering is essential to gain the benefits of unifying their techniques and methods in order to realize this potential. The absence of the global state in distributed systems, which is a result of the absence of a shared memory and unique repository, makes communication via messaging the sole means which can be used under any circumstances. Agents are conceptual communicating entities. The book presents the methods and tech­ niques which are necessary for the concrete implementation ofthe idea ofan agent as an autonomous and reactive computing entity. Multi-agent systems are com­ posed ofa set ofspecialized entities communicating on behalfofa global applica­ tion.

Decades of innovations in combinatorial problem solving have produced better and more complex algorithms. These new methods are better since they can solve larger problems and address new application domains. They are also more complex which means that they are hard to reproduce and often harder to fine-tune to the peculiarities of a given problem. This last point has created a paradox where efficient tools are out of reach of practitioners.Autonomous search (AS) represents a new research field defined to precisely address the above challenge. Its major strength and originality consist in the fact that problem solvers can now perform self-improvement operations based on analysis of the performances of the solving process -- including short-term reactive reconfiguration and long-term improvement through self-analysis of the performance, offline tuning and online control, and adaptive control and supervised control. Autonomous search'crosses the chasm'and provides engineers and practitioners with systems that are able to autonomously self-tune their performance while effectively solving problems. This is the first book dedicated to this topic, and it can be used as a reference for researchers, engineers, and postgraduates in the areas of constraint programming, machine learning, evolutionary computing, and feedback control theory. After the editors'introduction to autonomous search, the chapters are focused on tuning algorithm parameters, autonomous complete (tree-based) constraint solvers, autonomous control in metaheuristics and heuristics, and future autonomous solving paradigms.Autonomous search (AS) represents a new research field defined to precisely address the above challenge. Its major strength and originality consist in the fact that problem solvers can now perform self-improvement operations based on analysis of the performances of the solving process -- including short-term reactive reconfiguration and long-term improvement through self-analysis of the performance, offline tuning and online control, and adaptive control and supervised control. Autonomous search'crosses the chasm'and provides engineers and practitioners with systems that are able to autonomously self-tune their performance while effectively solving problems. This is the first book dedicated to this topic, and it can be used as a reference for researchers, engineers, and postgraduates in the areas of constraint programming, machine learning, evolutionary computing, and feedback control theory. After the editors'introduction to autonomous search, the chapters are focused on tuning algorithm parameters, autonomous complete (tree-based) constraint solvers, autonomous control in metaheuristics and heuristics, and future autonomous solving paradigms.This is the first book dedicated to this topic, and it can be used as a reference for researchers, engineers, and postgraduates in the areas of constraint programming, machine learning, evolutionary computing, and feedback control theory. After the editors'introduction to autonomous search, the chapters are focused on tuning algorithm parameters, autonomous complete (tree-based) constraint solvers, autonomous control in metaheuristics and heuristics, and future autonomous solving paradigms.This is the first book dedicated to this topic, and it can be used as a reference for researchers, engineers, and postgraduates in the areas of constraint programming, machine learning, evolutionary computing, and feedback control theory. After the editors'introduction to autonomous search, the chapters are focused on tuning algorithm parameters, autonomous complete (tree-based) constraint solvers, autonomous control in metaheuristics and heuristics, and future autonomous solving paradigms.

'This book provides various aspects of intelligent information technologies as they are applied to organizations to assist in improving productivity through the use of autonomous decision-making systems'--Provided by publisher.

Research on multi-agent systems has provided a promising technology for implementing cognitive intelligent non-playing characters. However, the technologies used in game engines and multi-agent platforms are not readily compatible due to some inherent differences in concerns. Where game engines focus on real-time aspects and thus propagate efficiency and central control, multi-agent platforms assume autonomy of the agents. Increased autonomy and intelligence may offer benefits for a more compelling gameplay and may even be necessary for serious games. However, problems occur when current game design techniques are used to incorporate state-of-the-art multi-agent system technology. A very similar argument can be given for agent-based (social) simulation. This volume contains the papers presented at AGS 2009, the First International Workshop on Agents for Games and Simulations, held in Budapest on May 11, 2009. The focus of the workshop was on the particular challenges facing those using agent technology for games and simulations, with topics covering the technical, conceptual and design aspects of the field.

'This book provides cutting-edge research on the modeling, implementation, and financial, environmental, and organizational implications of this dynamic topic to researchers and practitioners in fields such as information systems, intelligent agents, artificial intelligence, and Web engineering'--Provided by publisher.

A first attempt to develop a standardized agent communication language (ACL) resulted in KQML, probably the most widely used such language. However, a lot of technical work remains to be done. Even worse, so far, there seems to be little consensus on the basics of agent communication and there is no clear understanding of the semantics of individual speech acts or even of the basic concepts that should be used to define the semantics.This book documents two workshops on communication in MAS held in 1999, one on Specifying and Implementing Conversation Policies (SICP) and the other in Agent Communication Languages and presents the current state of the art of research in the field. A detailed introductory overview by the volume editors highlights a number of issues that play an important role in agent communication.

The field of agent & multi-agent systems is experiencing tremendous growth. At the same time the field of formal methods is blossoming and has proven its importance in industrial and government applications. The FAABS (Formal Approaches to Agent-Based Systems) workshops, merging the concerns of the two fields, provided a timely and compelling platform on which the growing concerns and requirement of agent-based systems users that systems should be accompanied by behavioral assurances, could be discussed. This book has arisen from the overwhelming response to FAABS'00,'02 &'04 and all chapters are updated or represent new research, and are designed to provide a more in-depth treatment of the topic. Examples of how others have applied formal methods to agent-based systems are included, plus formal method tools & techniques that readers can apply to their own systems. Agent Technology from a Formal Perspective provides an invaluable in-depth view of the key issues related to agent technology from a formal perspective, for both researchers and practitioners. This is a relatively new interdisciplinary field, and there is enormous room for further growth The book not only creates an initial foundation, but points to the gaps; indicating open problems to be addressed by future researchers, students & practitioners.

Challenges arise when the size of a group of cooperating agents is scaled to hundreds or thousands of members. In domains such as space exploration, military and disaster response, groups of this size (or larger) are required to achieve extremely complex, distributed goals. To effectively and efficiently achieve their goals, members of a group need to cohesively follow a joint course of action while remaining flexible to unforeseen developments in the environment. Coordination of Large-Scale Multiagent Systems provides extensive coverage of the latest research and novel solutions being developed in the field. It describes specific systems, such as SERSE and WIZER, as well as general approaches based on game theory, optimization and other more theoretical frameworks. It will be of interest to researchers in academia and industry, as well as advanced-level students.

The workshop on Declarative Agent Languages and Technologies is a we- established venue for researchers interested in sharing their experiences in the areas of declarative and formal aspects of agents and multi-agent systems, and in engineering and technology. Today it is still a challenge to develop techno- gies that can satisfy the requirements of complex agent systems. The design and development of multi-agent systems still calls for models and technologies that ensure predictability, enable feature discovery, allow for the veri?cation of properties, and guarantee?exibility. Declarative approaches are potentially a valuable means for satisfying the needs of multi-agent system developers and for specifying multi-agent systems. DALT 2005, the third edition of the workshop, was held in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in July 2005, in conjunction with AAMAS 2005, the Fourth Int- national Joint Conference on Agents and Multiagent Systems. Over 30 persons attended the workshop con?rming the success of the previous editions in M- bourne 2003 (LNAI 2990) and New York 2004 (LNAI 3476). The workshop series is a forum of discussion aimed both at supporting the transfer of decla- tive paradigms and techniques into the broader community of agent researchers andpractitioners, and atbringing theissuesofdesigningreal-world andcomplex agent systems to the attention of researchers working on declarative progr- ming and technologies.

Autonomy Oriented Computing is a comprehensive reference for scientists, engineers, and other professionals concerned with this promising development in computer science. It can also be used as a text in graduate/undergraduate programs in a broad range of computer-related disciplines, including Robotics and Automation, Amorphous Computing, Image Processing, Programming Paradigms, Computational Biology, etc. Part One describes the basic concepts and characteristics of an AOC system and enumerates the critical design and engineering issues faced in AOC system development. Part Two gives detailed analyses of methodologies and case studies to evaluate AOC used in problem solving and complex system modeling. The final chapter outlines possibilities for future research and development. Numerous illustrative examples, experimental case studies, and exercises at the end of each chapter of Autonomy Oriented Computing help particularize and consolidate the methodologies and theories presented.

Adaptive agents and multi-agent systems is an emerging and exciting interdisciplinary area of research and development involving artificial intelligence, software engineering, and developmental biology, as well as cognitive and social science. This book presents 17 revised and carefully reviewed papers taken from two workshops on the topic as well as 2 invited papers by leading researchers in the area. The papers deal with various aspects of machine learning, adaptation, and evolution in the context of agent systems and autonomous agents.

1. 1 Background In this work, we develop a framework for the design of multi-agent systems inspired by (human) organizational principles. Organizations are complex entities formed to ov- come various limitations of individual agencies, such as cognitive, physical, temporal and institutional limitations. There is a parallel between the complexity of organizations and multi-agent systems. Therefore, we explore the use of concepts, methods and techniques from human organizational design as architectural principles for multi-agent systems. Three research lines are presented: organizational modeling and coordination, interop- ability and agent models. Organizational modeling and coordination are concerned with how resources (i. e. agents) can be identi?ed and related to each other. In order to have agents cooperate, several issues of interoperability have to be addressed. Agent models deal with the design of individual intelligent software agents, taking into account typical features of agent intelligence. Every (human) activity raises two challenges: division of labor and coordi- tion [Mintzberg, 1993]. Division of labor is the decomposition of work (or goals) into various distinct tasks. Coordination refers to managing relations between these tasks to carry out the work. The patterns of division of labor, responsibilities (people who do the work), clustering of responsibilities into units and coordination between units can be de?ned by organizational structures [Galbraith, 1973]. The design of an organization should cover how one or more actors are engaged in one or more tasks, where knowledge, capabilities and resources are distributed.

Solving complex problems in real-world contexts, such as financial investment planning or mining large data collections, involves many different sub-tasks, each of which requires different techniques. To deal with such problems, a great diversity of intelligent techniques are available, including traditional techniques like expert systems approaches and soft computing techniques like fuzzy logic, neural networks, or genetic algorithms. These techniques are complementary approaches to intelligent information processing rather than competing ones, and thus better results in problem solving are achieved when these techniques are combined in hybrid intelligent systems. Multi-Agent Systems are ideally suited to model the manifold interactions among the many different components of hybrid intelligent systems. This book introduces agent-based hybrid intelligent systems and presents a framework and methodology allowing for the development of such systems for real-world applications. The authors focus on applications in financial investment planning and data mining.

Adaptive Agents and Multi-Agent Systems is an emerging and exciting interdisciplinary area of research and development involving artificial intelligence, computer science, software engineering, and developmental biology, as well as cognitive and social science. This book surveys the state of the art in this emerging field by drawing together thoroughly selected reviewed papers from two related workshops; as well as papers by leading researchers specifically solicited for this book. The articles are organized into topical sections on - learning, cooperation, and communication - emergence and evolution in multi-agent systems - theoretical foundations of adaptive agents

Agent engineering concerns the development of autonomous computational or physical entities capable of perceiving, reasoning, adapting, learning, cooperating and delegating in a dynamic environment. It is one of the most promising areas of research and development in information technology, computer science and engineering.This book addresses some of the key issues in agent engineering: What is meant by “autonomous agents”? How can we build agents with autonomy? What are the desirable capabilities of agents with respect to surviving (they will not die) and living (they will furthermore enjoy their being or existence)? How can agents cooperate among themselves? In order to achieve the optimal performance at the global level, how much optimization at the local, individual level and how much at the global level would be necessary?

This book describes research in all aspects of the design, implementation, and evaluation of embodied conversational agents as well as details of specific working systems.Embodied conversational agents are computer-generated cartoonlike characters that demonstrate many of the same properties as humans in face-to-face conversation, including the ability to produce and respond to verbal and nonverbal communication. They constitute a type of (a) multimodal interface where the modalities are those natural to human conversation: speech, facial displays, hand gestures, and body stance; (b) software agent, insofar as they represent the computer in an interaction with a human or represent their human users in a computational environment (as avatars, for example); and (c) dialogue system where both verbal and nonverbal devices advance and regulate the dialogue between the user and the computer. With an embodied conversational agent, the visual dimension of interacting with an animated character on a screen plays an intrinsic role. Not just pretty pictures, the graphics display visual features of conversation in the same way that the face and hands do in face-to-face conversation among humans. This book describes research in all aspects of the design, implementation, and evaluation of embodied conversational agents as well as details of specific working systems. Many of the chapters are written by multidisciplinary teams of psychologists, linguists, computer scientists, artists, and researchers in interface design. The authors include Elisabeth Andre, Norm Badler, Gene Ball, Justine Cassell, Elizabeth Churchill, James Lester, Dominic Massaro, Cliff Nass, Sharon Oviatt, Isabella Poggi, Jeff Rickel, and Greg Sanders.