I found this article very interesting. Maybe the search engine wars aren't over and people with truly good sites will rise to the top, instead of people who just know how to crack an algorithm.
How do you beat Google (GOOG) at its own game? Search engine upstart Powerset is betting on the wisdom of the crowds. As the latest step in one of the longer buildups to a product launch in Internet history, Powerset on Sept. 17 is taking the wraps off a new online community site called Powerset Labs. The company hopes the site will marshal thousands of people to help build and improve its search engine before it goes public next year.
Powerset is one of several dozen startups presenting themselves at TechCrunch40, a showcase being held in San Francisco on Sept. 17 and 18 by bloggers Michael Arrington, editor of TechCrunch, and Jason Calacanis, founder of the human-powered search startup Mahalo.com. But given the mounting anticipation since its plans became public last year, Powerset is likely to be one of the most closely watched.
http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...eek+exclusives