Rational agent.html



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In economics and artificial intelligence, a rational agent is an agent which takes actions based on information from and knowledge about the agent's environment. It strives to maximize the chances of success, where success is defined as the achievement of some desired outcome. Rational agents are also studied in the fields of cognitive science, ethics and philosophy, including the philosophy of practical reason. A rational agent is usually a human being, but any intelligent being in the Universe, organic or mechanic, can meet the definition in theory.

The action a rational agent takes depends on:

• the motivation of the agent
• the agent's past experiences
• the agent's information of its environment
• the actions, duties and obligations available to the agent
• the estimated benefits and the chances of success of the actions.

In game theory and classical economics it is assumed that the actors/(human agents) are rational.

An example of rational agents in the field of software is BDI software agents, and in socio-cognitive engineering is the abstract IPK (information,preference,knowledge) agent called personoid.

See also

Economics

• homo economicus
• agent (economics)
• bounded rationality
• game theory

Software

• intelligent agent
• software agent
• belief revision

References

• Russell, Stuart J.; Norvig, Peter (2003), Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (2nd ed.), Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-790395-2, http://aima.cs.berkeley.edu/