Message Passing in AI Agents

Introduction

Message passing is a crucial aspect of communication in multi-agent systems. It allows agents to share information, coordinate actions, and collaborate to achieve common goals. In this tutorial, we will explore the concept of message passing, its importance, and how it can be implemented in AI agents.

What is Message Passing?

Message passing refers to the process by which agents exchange information through messages. Each message contains data that an agent needs to send to another agent. This form of communication is fundamental for enabling agents to interact, share knowledge, and work together efficiently.

Types of Messages

There are several types of messages that agents can exchange:

• Request: An agent asks another agent to perform an action or provide information.
• Response: An agent replies to a request with the required action or information.
• Inform: An agent provides information to another agent without expecting a response.
• Confirm: An agent acknowledges receipt of a message.

Message Structure

A typical message consists of the following components:

• Sender: The agent sending the message.
• Receiver: The agent receiving the message.
• Content: The data or information contained in the message.
• Timestamp: The time when the message was sent.

Example Implementation

Let's consider an example where two agents communicate using message passing. We'll use Python to implement this example.

class Agent1:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def send_message(self, receiver, content):
        message = {
            'sender': self.name,
            'receiver': receiver,
            'content': content,
            'timestamp': time.time()
        }
        return message

class Agent2:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def receive_message(self, message):
        print(f"Message received by {self.name}: {message['content']}")

In this example, Agent1 sends a message to Agent2, and Agent2 receives and processes the message.

import time

# Create agents
agent1 = Agent1('Agent1')
agent2 = Agent2('Agent2')

# Agent1 sends a message to Agent2
message = agent1.send_message('Agent2', 'Hello, Agent2!')
agent2.receive_message(message)

Message received by Agent2: Hello, Agent2!
                

Conclusion

Message passing is a fundamental mechanism for communication in multi-agent systems. It enables agents to share information and coordinate their actions effectively. By understanding the structure and types of messages, as well as how to implement message passing, we can create more sophisticated and collaborative AI agents.