Google to Launch Knol Online Knowledge Base, Challenging Wikipedia

According to the tech blog TechCrunch, Google is preparing to launch a new service called "Knol." This service combines the features of Wikipedia and Squidoo, aiming to create an entirely new user-generated online knowledge base.

So far, the details of this service have not been disclosed. According to insiders, Google will share revenue with the authors of each page. If the author includes advertisements on the page, Google will share the revenue generated from these ads, though the specific split ratio remains unknown. Unlike Squidoo or other websites that share revenue with users but involve intermediaries, Google's Knol eliminates the middleman. In other words, if Google splits the revenue 1:1 with the user, the user can truly receive 50% of the revenue without having to give up a portion to an intermediary. This is undoubtedly a significant advantage, and could even be considered unfair competition.

TechCrunch editor Duncan Riley believes that launching the Knol service represents a notable change for Google. It signifies that the company is transitioning from merely aggregating and filtering content from other websites to creating its own content, aspiring to become a content provider. On one hand, this move by Google can promote the development of user-generated content; on the other hand, it may negatively impact many content providers who heavily rely on Google search results.

Google has clearly stated that it will include Knol results in its index, potentially placing them on the first page of search results, or even at the top. Google said: "We will place Knol results in an appropriate position to improve search quality." Google hopes that Knol will become an authoritative online knowledge base, directly challenging Wikipedia.