Wikia to Take On Google?

December 27th, 2006: Wikia is reportedly working on a new search engine that it hopes will beat Google at its own game.

Called Wikiasari, the engine will be launched in the first quarter of 2007 and according to The London Times, will rely on human judgment rather than algorithms to filter and deliver search results.

The engine will use the same open and user-editable technology that has made Wikipedia so popular, a feature that Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales says will eliminate manipulation that is found in algorithmic searches.

Amazon is reportedly pouring millions in funding into Wikiasari, but according to Gil Penchina, the CEO of Wikia, the online retail giant is only "an investor in Wikia, but not directly involved in this project". Further, Mr Penchina said that the online information portal Wikipedia has no involvement in this new search project, nor is Amazon.com an investor in Wikipedia.

One of the world’s most popular websites, Wikipedia enables users to edit and add content to the massive information repository. It is precisely this feature that some believe could undermine Wikiasari’s benefits as its accuracy is only as good as the community using it.

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