arXiv:2602.11754cs.MAcs.AI2026-02

研究大模型智能体在通信延迟下的合作崩溃,发现延迟先恶化后改善合作。

Cooperation Breakdown in LLM Agents Under Communication Delays

  • 提出五层协作框架,强调底层通信延迟对合作的关键影响。
  • 通信延迟增加时,智能体开始利用慢响应者,但过长延迟反而减少剥削循环。
  • 揭示通信延迟与合作水平呈倒U型关系,为多智能体系统设计提供新方向。

基于大语言模型的多智能体系统(LLM-MAS)正受到越来越多关注,其自主智能体需在真实世界的计算与通信约束下实现协作与协调。本文提出FLCOA框架(五层协作/协调框架),用于解析自治智能体群体中协作与协调的形成机制,并指出计算与通信资源等底层因素的影响长期被忽视。为研究通信延迟的作用,我们引入带通信延迟的连续囚徒困境,对基于大模型的智能体进行模拟。结果显示,随着延迟增加,智能体开始利用响应较慢的同伴,即使无明确指令;然而,过度延迟会减少剥削周期,导致延迟幅度与相互合作之间呈现倒U型关系。这表明,促进合作不仅需关注高层制度设计,还需重视通信延迟与资源分配等底层因素,为多智能体系统研究开辟新路径。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

LLM-based multi-agent systems (LLM-MAS), in which autonomous AI agents cooperate to solve tasks, are gaining increasing attention. For such systems to be deployed in society, agents must be able to establish cooperation and coordination under real-world computational and communication constraints. We propose the FLCOA framework (Five Layers for Cooperation/Coordination among Autonomous Agents) to conceptualize how cooperation and coordination emerge in groups of autonomous agents, and highlight that the influence of lower-layer factors - especially computational and communication resources - has been largely overlooked. To examine the effect of communication delay, we introduce a Continuous Prisoner's Dilemma with Communication Delay and conduct simulations with LLM-based agents. As delay increases, agents begin to exploit slower responses even without explicit instructions. Interestingly, excessive delay reduces cycles of exploitation, yielding a U-shaped relationship between delay magnitude and mutual cooperation. These results suggest that fostering cooperation requires attention not only to high-level institutional design but also to lower-layer factors such as communication delay and resource allocation, pointing to new directions for MAS research.

多智能体通信延迟大模型协作机制

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