How Google’s algorithm finds the funniest YouTube video clips

Google’s brain-box researchers have managed to come up with a formula for working out which YouTube video clips are the funniest.

Google researchers’ algorithm has declared that a video of a cat appearing to say “no” over and over again – called No No No Cat – is currently the funniest.

This video only has just over 60,000 hits – which is small compared to the millions some clips clock up – but Google turned its attention to the comments users leave to gauge comedy value.

Google Researcher Sanketh Shetty says the key to the formula is how people express their mirth.

Sanketh Shetty wrote in a blog post: “We noticed that viewers emphasize their reaction to funny videos in several ways: e.g. capitalization (LOL), elongation (loooooool), repetition (lolololol), exclamation (lolllll!!!!!), and combinations thereof.

“If a user uses an <<loooooool>> vs an <<loool>>, does it mean they were more amused? We designed features to quantify the degree of emphasis on words associated with amusement in viewer comments.”

Comments posted for No No No Cat certainly reflected this, with kayleighzoe1 writing “lololololollololololol” and muretto89 saying “XD LOL XD”.

Google also took other factors into account such as how videos were described by the uploader and tagged and whether audible laughter can be heard in the background.

Google also used its research to populate a list of candidates for YouTube’s Comedy Slam feature, where users can vote for the videos they laughed at the most. No No No Cat received the most votes.

The number two slot is currently occupied by “Guy gets Killed By Bear”, featuring a comedy kung-fu duel.

At number three is Marshmallow Murder, where “talking” marshmallows are skewered and burned.

Number four is a clip of an elderly gentleman showing off his dance moves, called Old Man Shuffling and number five is a cartoon of a misunderstood Italian holidaying in Malta, called Angry Italian man!

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