New Study Debunks "Infinite Monkey Theorem" Myth

A peer-reviewed study by mathematicians reveals that even with the entire population of chimpanzees typing indefinitely, the odds of recreating Shakespeare's works are astronomically low, challenging the traditional "infinite monkey theorem."

Two mathematicians from Australia have challenged the age-old "infinite monkey theorem," which posits that a monkey randomly typing on a typewriter could eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare if given enough time. Their study, led by researchers Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta from Sydney, found that the timeframe required for such an occurrence is longer than the lifespan of the universe itself. This suggests that although the theorem holds mathematical truth, it can be misleading.

The researchers conducted calculations not only about single monkeys but also examined the chances with the global chimpanzee population, estimated to be around 200,000. Surprisingly, the study showed that even if every chimp were engaged in typing at a rate of one key per second until the universe's end, the likelihood of them replicating Shakespeare’s significant works would remain exceedingly slim. Notably, there exists only a 5% chance for one chimp to typify the word "bananas" within its lifetime, and to construct a coherent sentence, the odds plummet to one in 10 quintillion.

The researchers concluded, “It is not plausible that, even with improved typing speeds or an increase in chimpanzee populations, monkey labour will ever be a viable tool for developing non-trivial written works.” The findings, based on the heat death theory of the universe—the prevailing hypothesis regarding its ultimate fate—emphasize that even infinite resources do not yield feasible results in reality. Woodcock explained, “This finding places the theorem among other probability puzzles and paradoxes… where infinite conditions don’t align with the constraints of our universe."