SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTED VIRTUAL ASSISTANT PLATFORMS

Virtual assistant systems (“VAs”) operate on a distributed and interconnected network, such as a hierarchy or mesh, of virtual assistant platforms (“VAPs”). VAs communicate with a user via an electronic device, and can communicate with other devices, software programs, and other VAs. VAs include intelligent agents configured to perform particular tasks. The VAP includes an execution environment that may provide an interface between the VA and the electronic device, and may further provide a framework of services for implementing, maintaining, and executing the intelligent agents. A VA may be configured to participate in a group VA in which knowledge and tasks can be shared and cooperatively executed. Cooperative execution can include distributing subtasks among VAs in the group VA, the subtasks together forming the task. Group VAs can share information with each other, and may further inter-network by accessing a common network outside the VAP, such as a social network.