Chapter 3 AI

Agents
Artificial Intelligence
CHAPTER 3
Introduction to
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Define an agent.
Define an intelligent agent
Define rational agent
Explain bounded rationality
Discuss different types of environment
Explain different agent architectures

Introduction to
AGENT AND ENVIRONMENT
Introduction to
AGENT
Operate in an environment
Perceives its environment through sensors
Acts upon its environments through actuators/effectors
Have a goal
Introduction to
SENSORS AND EFFECTORS
An agent perceives its environment

through sensors
The complete set of inputs at a given time is
called a percept.
The current percept or a sequence of
percepts can influence the actions of an
agent.
Introduction to
SENSORS AND EFFECTORS
It can change the environment through

effectors or actuators.
An operation involving an actuator is called
an action.
Actions can be grouped action sequences.
Introduction to
AGENT
Agents have sensors or actuators

They have goals
Implement mapping from percept sequence to actions.
The performance of agents can be evaluated
Introduction to
AGENT
Autonomous agent: decide autonomously which

actions to take in the current situation to maximize
progress towards its goals.
Introduction to
PERFORMANCE
Behavior and performance of AIs in terms of agent

function
Performance measure: a subjective measure to
characterize how successful an agent is (e.g. speed,
power usage, accuracy, money etc)
Introduction to
EXAMPLES OF AGENTS
Humans
Eyes, ears, skin, taste buds etc. for sensors
Hands, fingers, legs, mouth for effectors
Robots
Camera, infrared, bumper, etc for sensors
Grippers, wheels, lights, speakers, etc. for
actuators
Software agent (softbot)
Functions for sensors
Functions for actuators
Introduction to
TYPES OF AGENT
Xavier (CMU)
Introduction to
TYPES OF AGENT
Cog (MIT)
Introduction to
TYPES OF AGENT
The AIBO Entertainment

Robot is a totally a new kind of
robot – autonomous, sensitive
to his environment and able to
learn and mature like a living
creature. Since each AIBO
experiences his world
differently, each develops his
own unique personality –
different from any other AIBO
in the world.
Aibo (Sony)
Introduction to
TYPES OF AGENT
Softbots
Askjeeves.com (later ask.com)
Expert systems
Cardiologist
Autonomous spacecraft
Autonomous Spacecraft Are the Next Step for
NASA and the ESA
Intelligent buildings
They have intelligent control systems
Introduction to
AGENTS
Fundamental faculties of intelligence

 Acting
 Sensing
 Understanding, reasoning, learning
In order to act you must sense. Blind actions is not a
characterization of intelligence.
Robotics: sensing and acting is necessary.
Introduction to
INTELLIGENT AGENTS
Intelligent Agent:
Must sense
Must act
Must be autonomous (to some extent)
Must be rational
Introduction to
Rational Agent
AI is about building rational agent.

An agent is something that perceives and
acts
A rational agent always does the right
thing.
Introduction to
RATIONALITY
Perfect rationality
 Assumes that the rational agent knows all and will
take the action that maximizes her utility.
 Human beings do not satisfy this definition of
rationality.
Introduction to
RATIONALITY
Bounded rationality
 Because of the limitations of the human mind, humans
must use approximate methods to handle many tasks.
Introduction to
RATIONALITY
Rational action: the action that

maximizes the expected value of the
performance measure given the percept
sequence to date.
Rational = Best?
• Yes, to the best of its knowledge.
Introduction to
OMNISCIENCE
A rational agent is not omniscience

It doesn’t know the actual outcome of its
actions
It may not know certain aspect of its
environment
Introduction to
OMNISCIENCE
Rationality must take into account the

limitations of the agent.
Percept sequence, background knowledge,
feasible actions
Deal with the expected outcome of actions
Introduction to
In 1957, Simon proposed the notion of

Bounded Rationality:
Bounded Rationality is an agent that
behaves in a manner that is nearly
optimal with respect to its goals as its
resources will allow.
Introduction to
THAT IS ALL FOR TODAY…

ANY QUESTION?

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Agents

Define an intelligent agent

Define rational agent

Explain bounded rationality

Discuss different types of environment

Explain different agent architectures

An agent perceives its environment

It can change the environment through

Agents have sensors or actuators

Autonomous agent: decide autonomously which

Behavior and performance of AIs in terms of agent

The AIBO Entertainment

Fundamental faculties of intelligence

AI is about building rational agent.

Rational action: the action that

A rational agent is not omniscience

Rationality must take into account the

In 1957, Simon proposed the notion of

THAT IS ALL FOR TODAY…

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