The Infinite Monkey Theorem suggests that if a monkey were to randomly press keys on a typewriter for an infinite amount of time, it would eventually type out the complete works of Shakespeare purely by chance. This idea has been referenced in popular culture but a new study from the University of Technology Sydney reveals that the time required for this to happen is far longer than the lifespan of our universe. The researchers looked at the probability of a given string of letters being typed by a finite number of monkeys within a finite time period, rather than in an infinite limit as the original theorem suggests.
The study, published in a peer-reviewed journal, used a keyboard with 30 keys and assumed a rather productive typing speed of one key per second until the end of the universe in about 10^100 years. The researchers calculated the likelihood of a single chimp typing the word ‘bananas’ in its lifetime (around 5%) and found that even with the current global population of around 200,000 chimpanzees, the complete works of Shakespeare would almost certainly never be typed before the universe ends. This challenges the idea that infinite monkey labor could result in non-trivial written works.
The authors of the study suggest that the Infinite Monkey Theorem, and now its finite version, can be placed among other probability puzzles and paradoxes that don’t match up with the constraints of our universe. They point out that the theorem challenges readers to consider philosophical questions around creativity, meaning, and consciousness, and how these qualities emerge. The use of finite resources gives results that differ from what we get when considering the limitations of our universe, similar to other paradoxes.
The research highlights that the likelihood of a monkey typing out Shakespeare randomly is extremely small and would take an inconceivable amount of time to occur. Even with increased typing speeds or a higher chimpanzee population, the idea of using monkey labor to develop complex written works is not plausible. The findings from the study shed light on the limitations and constraints of our universe when considering the probability of random events like a monkey typing out Shakespeare’s works purely by chance.
Overall, the study provides a new perspective on the Infinite Monkey Theorem by considering the limits of a finite universe and the constraints imposed by our reality. While the original concept of the theorem is true, the idea that a monkey could randomly produce Shakespeare over an infinite amount of time is unlikely to happen within the timeframe of our universe. This research challenges readers to think critically about probability, randomness, and the emergence of complex creations, raising questions about the nature of creativity and consciousness.