Traditional database systems have been able to manipulate large amounts of data efficiently, whilst artificial intelligence (and in particular expert systems) have reasoned with rules, but rarely with data. It has become evident that to build truly intelligent information systems, facilities are required from artificial intelligence and database and distributed technologies. This book consists of seventeen selected and revised papers on the next generation of information systems, based on papers presented at two workshops, one on integrating artificial intelligence and databases, and the other on intelligent and cooperating information systems. The papers address several core issues, such as intelligence, distribution, and multi-agent/cooperative systems, and focuses on designing and building such systems mainly through the use of intelligent agents. The book presents up-to-date developments in this interdisciplinary field, covering information systems, artificial intelligence, and distributed systems.