Abstract:
The aim of this study is to discuss and critically re,~cw the Intelligent
Agents (IA) and their recent developments. The report will particularly focus
on the area of Intelligent Agents and information retrieval and how this
technology is aiding users of databases. This report commences with a discussion
of what Intelligent Agents are and it reviews the qualities they are generally
expected to have and settles on the definition of an intelligent agent as a software
entity. IA possess basic qualities such as autonomy, co-operation and learning.
Then the report critiques the current state of IA technology by examining the
technological, social, ethical and some of the legal issues. It further examines
the implications of this technology for the reason that computer and infonnation
professionals have already recognised that there are a number of problems and
issues surrounding the IA terminology and technology which must be resolved
as soon as possible in order to acquire the utmost benefit from this technology.
Although the Agents offer substantial advantage to users, the very nature of
the IA paradigm leads to a number of ethical, social, technical and legal
problems, common to all agent-based applications.
