Stack Overflow, launched in 2008 by Joel Spolsky and Jeff Atwood, emerged as a revolutionary free Q&A platform for programmers, effectively countering the paywalled model of sites like Experts Exchange. It was born out of the desire to create an open, community-driven resource, and quickly gained traction due to its accessible and collaborative approach. Over the years, Stack Overflow diversified its revenue streams beyond traditional advertising, including features like Stack Overflow Careers and data licensing, while maintaining its core mission of free access to information. However, the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has presented new challenges, potentially disrupting the traditional model of peer-reviewed knowledge accumulation. As AI continues to evolve, Stack Overflow faces the critical task of adapting to this new landscape to sustain its relevance and integrity in the future.