Viviana Mascardi, Andrea Omicini (eds.)
The Agents Journey: Twenty-Five Years of Multi-agent Systems, chapter 14, pages 366–384
Lecture Notes in Computer Science (State-of-the-Art Survey) 16395
Springer Nature Switzerland
April 2026
The rise of generative AI and LLMs is reshaping the global landscape of computational infrastructures. Massive investments in hardware and software are required, raising pressing questions about technological monopolies, digital divides, and the role of public institutions. Recalling the historical evolution of ICT infrastructures, we argue in this paper for a different long-term perspective on AI development—one where agents and MASs serve as the conceptual and technical foundation of scalable, sustainable, and open AI frameworks. Such an approach can help address the challenges of sustaining AI research within public contexts and promote democratic control over AI technologies and applications in the public interest.
keywords
AI Infrastructure, Multi-Agent Systems, Open Science, Neurosymbolic AI, Internet of Intelligent Things, Digital Divide, Public Interest, AI & Democracy
journal or series
Lecture Notes in Computer Science
(LNCS)
container publication
companion publication
Preface (editorial/introduction/preface, 2026) — Viviana Mascardi, Andrea Omicini
funding project
ENGINES — ENGineering INtElligent Systems around intelligent agent technologies
(28/09/2023–27/02/2026)
AEQUITAS — Assessment and Engineering of eQuitable, Unbiased, Impartial and Trustworthy Ai Systems
(01/11/2022–31/10/2025)
FAIR-PE01-SP08 — Future AI Research – Partenariato Esteso sull'Intelligenza Artificiale – Spoke 8 “Pervasive AI”
(01/01/2023–31/12/2025)
works as
companion publication for
Preface (editorial/introduction/preface, 2026) — Viviana Mascardi, Andrea Omicini
