For anyone still thinking about this, it will help you to understand what this is all about when you know that this is version 2.0 of this (which failed):

"While Google billed the feature as an easier way to gather related information, some Web publishers and technology analysts were quick to criticize AutoLink. They compared it to Microsoft Corp.'s Smart Tags technology that unraveled amid widespread criticism in 2001, saying AutoLink similarly changes Web content to the potential benefit of Google... more

The model just changes from cumpulsory client side to volunteer-basis, server-side.