2 Abstract

In this thesis we explore the use of Intelligent Agents as Intermediaries in existing and forthcoming Electronic Markets especially the World Wide Web (WWW). It offers an introduction into foundations of such technologies of Artificial Intelligence as coordination, conflict solving and user modeling and the deployment of agent technology proceeding from search engines in the WWW.

We present Electronic Markets and their fundamental concepts of transactions and intermediaries and discuss the question of changing roles of conventional intermediaries in Electronic Markets. Some Electronic Markets and the roles of intermediaries are presented based upon a classification of Electronic Markets in WWW as Electronic Market, Electronic Markets in the WWW and Electronic Markets outside the WWW.

As a conclusion some open questions and unsolved problems regarding the use of Intelligent Agents as intermediaries in Electronic Markets are discussed and one potential development of this technology is shown.