The current generation of data systems relies on two concepts that have only recently risen to prominence: Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. Together, Big Data and AI make possible the complex computational tasks that are essential to every field, industry, and corner of contemporary life. As we continue to demand additional value and greater problem-solving ability from our systems, we must find additional ways of conceiving of data processing. New insights are needed to launch a new generation of processing and analytics. In Modern Big Data Architectures, data scientist Dominik Ryżko presents a view of Big Data architectures that has the potential to expand our thinking on intelligent systems. In the context of a comprehensive overview of Big Data applications covering everything from social media and IoT to fog computing and higher-level industrial processing, Ryżko traces the concept of multi-agent systems (MAS) as a potential paradigm for distributed intelligent systems. This unique book is the first to provide practical guidance on Big Data processing alongside an analysis of MAS and its potential to add value. Although MAS has not yet risen to prominence in the general public, it has already begun to influence how systems architects and data analysts solve problems using Big Data. A MAS consists of multiple agents--autonomous intelligent entities capable of learning and completing specific tasks. When several such agents, each designed with its own specialty, collaborate to solve complex problems, the resulting MAS is capable of exhilarating feats. Big Data and machine learning specialists are already using similar technologies. With this book, readers can fully integrate the power of MAS in their Big Data applications, for more powerful, adaptive, and intelligent systems.