The Knowledge Engineering Review, Vol. 21:4, 293–316. 2006, Cambridge University Press doi:10.1017/S0269888906001044 Printed in the United Kingdom Towards an argument interchange format CARLOS CHESNx EVAR1,6, JARRED MCGINNIS2, SANJAY MODGIL3, IYAD RAHWAN2,4, CHRIS REED5, GUILLERMO SIMARI6, MATTHEW SOUTH3, GERARD VREESWIJK7 andSTEVEN WILLMOTT8 1Universitat de Lleida, Catalunya, Spain; e-mail:
[email protected] 2University of Edinburgh, UK 3Cancer Research UK, UK 4British University in Dubai, UAE 5University of Dundee, UK 6Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina 7Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands 8Universitat Polite`cnica de Catalunya, Catalunya, Spain Abstract The theory of argumentation is a rich, interdisciplinary area of research straddling the fields of artificial intelligence, philosophy, communication studies, linguistics and psychology. In the last few years, significant progress has been made in understanding the theoretical properties of different argumentation logics. However, one major barrier to the development and practical deployment of argumentation systems is the lack of a shared, agreed notation or ‘interchange format’ for argumentation and arguments. In this paper, we describe a draft specification for an argument interchange format (AIF) intended for representation and exchange of data between various argumentation tools and agent-based applications. It represents a consensus ‘abstract model’ established by researchers across fields of argumentation, artificial intelligence and multi-agent systems1. In its current form, this specification is intended as a starting point for further discussion and elaboration by the community, rather than an attempt at a definitive, all-encompassing model. However, to demonstrate proof of concept, a use case scenario is briefly described. Moreover, three concrete realizations or ‘reifications’ of the abstract model are illustrated.