In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Multiagent Systems ( ICMAS - 96 ) , Kyoto , Japan , December 1996 Self - ful lling Bias in Multiagent

Learning in a multiagent environment is complicated by the fact that as other agents learn, the environment eeectively changes. Moreover, other agents' actions are often not directly observable , and the actions taken by the learning agent can strongly bias which range of behaviors are encountered. We deene the concept of a conjectural equilibrium, where all agents' expectations are realized, and each agent responds optimally to its expectations. We present a generic multiagent exchange situation, in which competitive behavior constitutes a conjectural equilibrium. We then introduce an agent that executes a more sophisticated strategic learning strategy, building a model of the response of other agents. We nd that the system reliably converges to a conjectural equilibrium, but that the nal result achieved is highly sensitive to initial belief. In essence, the strategic learner's actions tend to fullll its expectations. Depending on the starting point, the agent may be better or worse oo than had it not attempted to learn a model of the other agents at all.