Even though the concept of the intelligent agent has been around for many years, the actual implementation is still in its infancy. Most agents are relatively simple. As agents gain a wider acceptance and become more sophisticated, they will be a major factor in the future of the Internet. Intelligent agents will not replace "surfing" altogether, but they should make information gathering and purchasing decisions much easier for the consumer. They will not have to fumble through lists and lists of sites. Instead they will ask their agent to start searching, walk away, and come back to find the information they wanted. Ultimately, consumers will have their own personally trained shopper and research assistant, who knows all of their preferences, goals, and information desires.