Deciding how smart links will look like in text is simple enough. After all they are based on HTTP queries. The project just needs to define a query format, its semantics and possibly different levels of implementation. If you already put a search box on a web site that is all quite straightforward.
On the other hand the smart links infrastructure promises some tougher challenges.
Will there be a centralized all-knowing entity overseeing and coordinating its subordinates, or will the data be distributed all around the world forming a loose mesh of information? The former is used by DNS which does a good job managing the names of web sites (e.g. mozilla.org). The latter is linked to peer-to-peer file sharing, the Skype network and SETI@home.
There is also the question of authority. Smart links could be hijacked to take your browser to a different page than intended if authority is not well defined. Smart link updates need to be protected from attackers. The attackers could set up a rogue server. If a query is delegated the server should first make sure it can trust another server.
To conclude we should not celebrate too fast when the project shows the first smart links to the world: there is still a lot of work ahead of us!
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