While the reactive/pro-active dichotomy distinguishes agents' behavioural capabilities, the adaptive/non-adaptive distinction relates to their ability to change their behavioural rules responsivley .

Non-adaptive agents have a determinate set of rules. This does not necessarily mean the rules remain the same through time (e.g. rules can change as the agent develops or ages), but it does mean that any changes to the rules are predictable and part of the model specification.

Adaptive agents have rules that can change dynamically with changes in state (both the agent's and the environment's). The model specification can include "meta-rules" governing the way these change but how the rules evolve is not easily predictable.

Next: Organisational Metaphors