Google will probably copy from Wolfram Alpha those things that are likely to be of interest to many users. And it will do so using automated scalable methods.
I think they are out to become like Google for a very technically and numerically inclined subset of the populace.
If this is not all just rigged demoware, then he will succeed, and he's going to make a killing! He will benefit from the same incumbency factors that Google enjoys now, and he'll be a leader in the industry he is about to create.
If it's rigged demoware, he might fall flat on his face.
Stephen has said many times that he will not be bought out.
The important thing to understand is that Stephen Wolfram built Alpha as his personal "publication platform." He is going to use it to in effect "publish" his ideas about NKS and computation in general into immediately useful form, to the entire world. Rather than write papers.
Hehe, true. However you need to take into account sw's career. Its pretty obvious if you look at his record that he is in this for the long term legacy.
Alpha isn't just some web startup looking for an exit. Its the culmination of a life's work in computation, and the offspring of a 20+ year old company.
