This exciting and pioneering new overview of multiagent systems, which are online systems composed of multiple interacting intelligent agents, i.e., online trading, offers a newly seen computer science perspective on multiagent systems, while integrating ideas from operations research, game theory, economics, logic, and even philosophy and linguistics.. The authors emphasize foundations to create a broad and rigorous treatment of their subject, with thorough presentations of distributed problem solving, game theory, multiagent communication and learning, social choice, mechanism design, auctions, cooperative game theory, and modal logics of knowledge and belief. For each topic, basic concepts are introduced, examples are given, proofs of key results are offered, and algorithmic considerations are examined. An appendix covers background material in probability theory, classical logic, Markov decision processes and mathematical programming. Written by two of the leading researchers of this engaging field, this book will surely serve as THE reference for researchers in the fastest-growing area of computer science, and be used as a text for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses.
Industry Reviews
"This is by far the best text in the field of multiagent systems, one of the fastest-growing areas in computer science." Stuart Russell, University of California at Berkeley "The integration of methodologies that study different aspects of interactive strategic systems is of vital importance in modern society. Through excellent side-by-side presentation of the main approaches in computer science, game theory and economics, this pioneering textbook is a major advance towards the education of a better-equipped generation of computer scientists as well as social scientists." Ehud Kalai, Northwestern University "This is a rich and comprehensive text on multiagent systems, written by two of the leading researchers in the area in an engaging and accessible style. It is unique in covering the diverse foundations of multiagent systems, including logic. Its extensive treatment of the interplay between computer science and game theory will define how the subject should be taught. I recommend the book for graduate students and advanced undergraduates, as well as researchers in both computer science and economics trying to learn the basics of the field." Joseph Halpern, Cornell University "With the emergence of the Internet, the focus of much of the research in computer science and in artificial intelligence is shifting from the the study of the single program to the study of the interactions among different computers and programs. Multiagent Systems presents for the first time this cutting-edge research in a textbook form. The book transcends the traditional boundaries of artificial intelligence and touches all aspects of multiagent systems: from artificial intelligence to algorithms to game theory, to logic, and beyond. Written by leaders in this research area, this book is certain to become the textbook of choice for classes on multiagent systems." Noam Nisan, Hebrew University "Shoham and Leyton-Brown traverse several disciplines to bring together the most salient and useful technical principles for understanding multiagent systems. This text is the first to provide computer scientists with a comprehensive treatment of the mathematical machinery they need to analyze systems of autonomous agents, integrating their computational and strategic dimensions." Michael Wellman, University of Michigan
