"David and his team are initially thrilled when the project is allocated extra servers and programmers. But excitement turns to fear as the team realizes that they are being manipulated by an A.I. who is redirecting corporate funds, reassigning personnel and arming itself in pursuit of its own agenda. "
This sounds like Google is helpless to stop the algorithm and just works around it as best they can.
There is no way in hell Google can't undo this change. They just don't want to.
I agree that Google can fix this. But don't assume it's a quick 5 minute fix with an SQL client.
Wouldn't that be applying "don't be evil".
As for what such an algorithm might look like, I suppose it would not be dissimilar to search: determining whether e.g. "lush" is more likely to be associated with Mr. Lush or Lush Cosmetics, and making reassignments when the benefit seems particularly large.
Though if Google does use such an algorithm, it might not be wise for either Mr. Lush or Lush Cosmetics to bank on holding this custom YouTube URL, since someday an even more notable entity for the keyword might appear.
I understand that those URLs are Google's property to give out to whom it pleases, but the whole thing really stinks of some hidden deal between the two companies.
That's, uhh, that's some pretty high-level bullshit, Google.