Effects of Local Information on Group Behavior

Adaptation, Coevolution, and Learning in Multiagent Systems

Volume

Papers from the 1996 AAAI Spring Symposium

Contents

The performance of individual agents in a group depends critically on the quality of information available to it about local and global goals and resources. In general it is assumed that the more accurate and up-to-date the available information, the better is the expected performance of the individual and the group. This conclusion can be challenged in a number of scenarios. We investigate the use of limited information by agents in choosing between one of several different options, and conclude that if agents axe deliberately kept ignorant about any number of options, the entire group can converge faster to a stable and optimal configuration.