Amalthaea information discovery and filtering using a multiagent evolving ecosystem

Agents are semi-intelligent programs that assist the user in performing repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Information discovery and information filtering are a suitable domain for applying agent technology. Ideas drawn from the field of autonomous agents and artificial life are combined in the creation of an evolving ecosystem composed of competing and cooperating agents. A co-evolution model of information filtering agents that adapt to the various users interests and information discovery agents that monitor and adapt to the various on-line information sources is analyzed. Results from a number of experiments are presented and discussed. Keywords: Agents, Information Filtering, Evolution, World-Wide-Web 1 Introduction The exponential increase of computer systems that are interconnected in on-line networks has resulted in a corresponding exponential increase in the amount of information available on-line. This information is distributed among heterogeneous sources and is often ...