Wolfram IS NOT a threat to Google
These threads keep popping up everywhere asking whether or not alpha will replace Google. The answer is unquestionably NO. The two search engines serve entirely different purposes. Google is a web search that includes everything out there. Alpha is a database search that only include verified scientific data. Alpha will skim a small amount of research traffic off of Google’s massive user base. The real question is how is Alpha going to be used in the future?
One of the most amazing features of WolphramAlpha is that I can input “what was the weather on may 8 1995 in Boulder city?” and I get an immediate answer straight from the archive along with some pretty graphs.
Lets try the same thing on Google… “what was the weather on may 8 1995 in Boulder city?”.
Well I’m sure the info is there… might just take hours to find it. And it will not be nicely formatted like alpha’s response.
Now lets try something different, How do I add a background to my webpage?
The first result on google is exactly the answer I’m looking for, I don’t know how you can get much better than that.
Lets try wolfram, How do I add a background to my webpage?
It has no clue wtf I am talking about. How is it supposed to replace Google? There is no possible chance.
What is the difference? Google is a guide to finding information sources. Alpha is an information source by itself. There are very few things that Google replicates, maybe entering 2*8 (who the hell uses that anyway?) and maybe some things such as finance but the main purpose of Google is not replicated by alpha. WolframAlpha has effectively carved itself a niche with little competition.
I believe that WolframAlpha threatens the actual sources of verified data. Many of which are government or educational websites who’s main goal is not to collect as many visitors as possible.
Even though it is not the next Google, Alpha still has a huge amount of potential. It is easy access to verified scientific data, something that you cannot find anywhere else ( a sense of humor 1 2 doesn’t hurt either). Unless teachers decide that the real reason that they don’t like the internet is that it is too easy, alpha will be a source for easy information for school reports and educational research. Try x^2sin(x) it comes up with graphs, roots, and even the integrals and derivitives ( as a calculus student this is a godsend). WoframAlpha is not going to leave anytime soon and its not going to be doing any killing, it has carved out its unique niche without disturbing many others.
