AI Glossary
The complete dictionary of Artificial Intelligence
Zone of Possible Agreement (ZOPA)
Range of values where the utilities of the agents overlap, making a mutually beneficial agreement possible during negotiations on a single criterion.
Concession Strategy
Algorithmic approach that determines how and when an agent modifies its proposals to get closer to the positions of its adversaries while maximizing its utility.
Alternating Negotiation
Sequential negotiation format where agents take turns submitting proposals, allowing for dynamic adaptation to previous offers.
Reservation Point
Minimum utility threshold below which an agent prefers to abandon the negotiation rather than accept the proposed agreement.
Mediation Mechanism
Third-party entity or central algorithm that facilitates negotiation by proposing solutions, verifying the consistency of offers, or applying conflict resolution rules.
Argumentation in Negotiation
Process in which agents justify their positions using logical arguments, counter-examples, or evidence to influence the preferences of their counterparts.
Time Horizon
Time limit set for the negotiation, influencing the agents' strategies, who must trade off between reaching a quick agreement and optimizing their gain.
Multi-criteria Negotiation
Negotiation process that simultaneously deals with several dimensions of an agreement, requiring preference aggregation mechanisms and compensation between criteria.
Agent Bounded Rational
Agent with limited computational and information capabilities, adopting heuristic rather than optimal strategies to manage the computational complexity of negotiation.
Contract Net Protocol
Structured negotiation mechanism around task announcements, calls for tenders, and contract allocation, widely used for agent coordination in distributed systems.
Threats and Promises
Strategic tools used by agents to modify their adversaries' expectations, respectively by invoking future sanctions or conditional rewards.