WHAT IS AN AGENT

The intelligent agent is a concept that has been around for 25 years. The definitions of an agent fall everywhere along a continuum, from simple macros in which the user enters a few parameters to truly intelligent agents which demonstrate learning ability and artificial intelligence. Currently, most intelligent agents fall somewhere between the former description and the middle ground of the continuum. In general, though, all agents seem to have similar characteristics. An agent is a software entity which has some degree of autonomy, carries out operations on the behalf of a user or another program, and in this process, represents or has knowledge of the user's goals and wishes.
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