Agent-based Web service launches

Agents Incorporated, a startup spun out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab announced today a new consumer-targeted Web utility called Firefly.

Firefly will enable subscribers to automatically receive news of new music, bands, and other related information that matches their personal preferences.

The Firefly technology will work by examining users' preferences and then automatically searching the Web for new data in line with those preferences, officials said.

Firefly was founded by Patti Maes, an associate professor at MIT, and Nicholas Grouf, who is CEO of the startup. Company officials declined to provide pricing details.