What is the difference between goal-based and utility-based agents?

Utility is a fundamental to Artificial Intelligence because it is the means by which we evaluate an agent's performance in relation to a problem. To distinguish between the concept of economic utility and utility-based computing functions, the term "performance measure" is utilized.

The simplest way to distinguish between a goal-based agent and a utility-based agent is that a goal is specifically defined, where maximization of utility is general. (Maximizing utility is itself a form of goal, but generalized as opposed to specific.)

• A goal-based navigation agent is tasked with getting from point A to point B. If the agent succeeds, the goal has been satisfied.
• A utility-based navigation agent could seek to get from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time, with the minimum expenditure of fuel, or both.

In the above example, the utility agent is also goal based, but where the performance measure for the goal agent is a binary [succeed/fail], the utility agent can use real numbers and measure performance by degree. The utility agent allows more granularity in evaluation.