Software-based Agent

A Software-based Agent is a software system that is an autonomous agent that performs automated tasks on behalf of system users and software systems.

• AKA: Digital Agent, Virtual Agent, Software Agent.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) provide Agent Autonomy through independent operations and automated decisions.
  • It can (typically) maintain Agent Persistence via continuous execution and proactive monitoring.
  • It can (typically) support Agent Communication with interaction protocols and message exchanges.
  • It can (often) process Environmental Input from sensor data and user interactions.
  • It can (often) generate Agent Responses through automated actions.
  • It can (often) adapt to Environment Changes through learning mechanisms.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Simple Software Agent to being a Complex Software Agent, depending on its agent complexity.
  • It can range from being a Reactive Software Agent to being a Proactive Software Agent, depending on its behavior pattern.
  • It can range from being a Rule-based Software Agent to being a Learning Software Agent, depending on its intelligence level.
  • It can range from being a Batch-Oriented Software Agent to being an Interactive Software Agent, depending on its interaction mode.
  • It can range from being a Standalone Software Agent to being a Collaborative Software Agent, depending on its social capability.
  • It can range from being a Domain-Specific Software Agent to being a General-Purpose Software Agent, depending on its application scope.
  • It can range from being a Stationary Software Agent to being a Mobile Software Agent, depending on its execution mobility.
  • ...
  • It can be a part of an Agent-based Software System.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Personal Assistant Software Agents, such as:
    • Virtual Assistant Agents for user task automation.
    • Digital Secretary Agents for schedule management.
    • Information Management Agents for data organization.
    • ...
  • Task-Specific Software Agents, such as:
    • Web Crawler Agents for content indexing.
    • Data Mining Agents for pattern discovery.
    • Process Monitoring Agents for system oversight.
    • ...
  • Domain-Specific Software Agents, such as:
    • Healthcare Software Agents for patient monitoring.
    • Financial Software Agents for market analysis.
    • Security Software Agents for threat detection.
    • ...
  • Interactive Software Agents, such as:
    • Chatbot Agents for user communication.
    • Customer Service Agents for support automation.
    • Educational Agents for learning assistance.
    • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Automated Teller Machine, which follows fixed procedures without agency.
  • Home Robot, which is a physical rather than software-based agent.
  • Manual Software Tools, which require direct human input for each action.
  • Non-Autonomous Scripts, which lack independent decision-making capability.
• See: Agent, Intelligent Agent, Reasoning System, Believable Virtual Agent, Mobile Agent, Robot, Mobile Device, Human-Robot Interaction, Multi-Agent System (MAS), Autonomous Agent, Digital Assistant, Agent Communication Protocol, Agent Learning Algorithm.

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References

2024-11-24

• Perplexity.ai
  • Question: What is a Software-based agent? Please explain how these autonomous software systems perform automated tasks on behalf of users or other systems. Include information about their range from simple, rule-based scripts to complex, learning-enabled systems with proactive behaviors.
  • Answer: Software agents are autonomous computer programs that perform tasks on behalf of users or other systems with varying degrees of independence. They range from basic automated scripts to sophisticated AI-powered systems that can learn and adapt to their environment.
    • Key Characteristics:
      • Autonomy:
        • Independent operation without constant human intervention
        • Independent decision-making
        • Autonomous task execution
      • Task Automation:
        • Handle repetitive tasks
        • Improve efficiency
        • Reduce human error
      • Intelligence Levels:
        • Simple rule-based systems
        • Complex AI-enabled agents
        • Agents that learn from interactions
    • Types and Applications:
      • Virtual Assistants:
        • Process natural language
        • Manage tasks
        • Learn from user interactions
      • Security Agents:
        • DLP Agents: Monitor user operations
        • EDR Agents: Monitor endpoint activities
        • CASB Agents: Examine cloud application traffic
      • Business and Commerce:
        • Buyer agents for information gathering
        • Shopping bots for product comparison
        • Network navigation capabilities
      • Multi-Agent Systems:
        • Traffic management systems
        • Traffic signal control
        • Surveillance camera management
    • Industrial Applications:
      • Project Management:
        • Task scheduling
        • Resource allocation
        • Team performance optimization
      • Assembly Line Automation:
        • Robotic agents with sensors
        • Welding automation
        • Painting automation
      • User Assistance:
        • Email sorting and notification
        • Custom news aggregation
        • Web form automation
        • Information retrieval
        • Profile synchronization
  • Citations:

[1] https://foundershield.com/insurance-terms/definition/software-agent/
[2] https://botpress.com/blog/real-world-applications-of-ai-agents
[3] https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/glossary/agent/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_agent
[5] https://www.britannica.com/technology/software-agent

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/software_agent Retrieved:2024-6-2.
  • In computer science, a software agent is a computer program that acts for a user or another program in a relationship of agency.

    The term agent is derived from the Latin agere (to do): an agreement to act on one's behalf. Such "action on behalf of" implies the authority to decide which, if any, action is appropriate. Some agents are colloquially known as bots, from robot. They may be embodied, as when execution is paired with a robot body, or as software such as a chatbot executing on a computer, such as a mobile device, e.g. Siri. Software agents may be autonomous or work together with other agents or people. Software agents interacting with people (e.g. chatbots, human-robot interaction environments) may possess human-like qualities such as natural language understanding and speech, personality or embody humanoid form (see Asimo).

    Related and derived concepts include intelligent agents (in particular exhibiting some aspects of artificial intelligence, such as reasoning), autonomous agents (capable of modifying the methods of achieving their objectives), distributed agents (being executed on physically distinct computers), multi-agent systems (distributed agents that work together to achieve an objective that could not be accomplished by a single agent acting alone), and mobile agents (agents that can relocate their execution onto different processors).

2024

• Perplexity
  • It performs automated tasks on behalf of a user or another program with a certain degree of autonomy.
  • It can execute predefined tasks or functions based on specific conditions or events, often without direct human intervention.
  • It ranges from simple scripts that automate repetitive tasks to complex systems employing advanced AI and machine learning algorithms.
  • It exhibits autonomy, making decisions and performing tasks independently without continuous human guidance.
  • It can perceive its environment and respond to changes appropriately, demonstrating reactivity.
  • It can communicate and collaborate with other agents or systems, displaying social ability.
  • It enhances efficiency, reduces manual workloads, and improves task accuracy and speed through automation and data-driven decision-making.

2013

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_agent
  • QUOTE: In computer science, a systems agent is a computer program that acts for a user or other program in a relationship of agency, which derives from the Latin agere (to do): an agreement to act on one's behalf. Such "action on behalf of" implies the authority to decide which, if any, action is appropriate.

    Related and derived concepts include intelligent agents (in particular exhibiting some aspect of artificial intelligence, such as learning and reasoning), autonomous agents (capable of modifying the way in which they achieve their objectives), distributed agents (being executed on physically distinct computers), multi-agent systems (distributed agents that do not have the capabilities to achieve an objective alone and thus must communicate), and mobile agents (agents that can relocate their execution onto different processors).

2011

• (Sammut & Webb, 2011) ⇒ Claude Sammut (editor), and Geoffrey I. Webb (editor). (2011). “Agent.” In: (Sammut & Webb, 2011) p.36
  • QUOTE: In computer science, the term “agent” usually denotes a software abstraction of a real entity which is capable of acting with a certain degree of autonomy. For example, in artificial societies, agents are software abstractions of real people, interacting in an artifical, simulated environment. Various authors have proposed different definitions of agents. Most of them would agree on the following set of agent properties:
    • Persistence: Code is not executed on demand but runs continuously and decides autonomously when it should perform some activity.
    • Social ability: Agents are able to interact with other agents.
    • Reactivity: Agents perceive the environment and are able to react.
    • Proactivity: Agents exhibit goal-directed behavior and can take the initiative.

1996

• (Franklin & Graesser, 1996) ⇒ Stan Franklin, and Art Graesser. (1996). “Is It An Agent, Or Just a Program?: A Taxonomy for Autonomous Agents.” In: Proceedings of the Workshop on Intelligent Agents III, Agent Theories, Architectures, and Languages.

1996

• H. S. Nwana. (1996). “Software Agents: An Overview.” In: Knowledge Engineering Review, 11(3).

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