Home/Agentic AI/Agent Negotiation/Introduction
←
Previous Module
Consensus in Multi-Agent Systems

Agent Negotiation

Master bargaining strategies and reach mutually beneficial agreements

Your Progress

0 / 5 completed
1
2
3
4
5

Beyond Voting: Active Bargaining

While voting determines winners, negotiation finds compromises. Agents don't just vote and accept the outcome—they actively bargain, make offers, propose trades, and seek solutions where both parties improve their position.

Negotiation vs. Voting

VOTING

  • • Fixed options (A, B, or C)
  • • Winner-takes-all outcome
  • • No compromise or creativity
  • • Losers get nothing

NEGOTIATION

  • • Infinite possible solutions
  • • Win-win outcomes possible
  • • Creative deal-making
  • • Both sides can gain

Interactive: Negotiation Round Progression

Step through a price negotiation to see how agents make offers, counteroffers, and gradually converge to agreement.

SELECT NEGOTIATION ROUND

Round 1

REJECTED
🤖

Agent A (Seller)

Wants to maximize price
OFFER
$100
Starting high to anchor expectations
🤖

Agent B (Buyer)

Wants to minimize price
OFFER
$20
Starting low to leave room for movement
Price Gap$80

Key Negotiation Concepts

💬

Offer-Counteroffer

Iterative exchange until convergence or breakdown

🎯

Utility Maximization

Each agent seeks the best possible outcome for itself

🤝

Zone of Agreement

Overlapping range where deals are possible

💡 Key Insight

Negotiation unlocks value that voting cannot. When agents can trade, compromise, and create deals, they often reach outcomes superior to any fixed option. The buyer gets a fair price, the seller gets a sale, and both are better off than walking away.