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11/10/2005: "Build your own Google"

Here's something thats been filling my mind of late on the (too many) nights when I can't sleep.

Wouldn't it be possible to use a genetic algorithm to program a neural net such that the NN produced results largely indistinguishable from Google's "Page Rank" algorithm? If it is possible (and I think it is), couldn't Microsoft, or Yahoo! or some other well-funded source smash together a Google replacement (for search, anyway) and compete for AdSense revenue?

Note that such a competition would likely serve to raise, not reduce the AdSense rates. Websites would make more, while people who "buy" AdWords would likely pay less. Google (and its competitors) make a lower margin return, while the rest of us get rich in the process.

Yes, I'm discounting (to zero) all of that precious infrastructure that Google has built-up, along with their horde of ultra-smart people. Joy's law still applies, the number of smart people at Google is the log of the number of people at Google. Google may have a different base for the logarithm than Microsoft or the US Army, but they're still deep into diminishing returns with each new hire.