Study Calls 'Infinite Monkey Theorem' Into Question

Published NOV 1 2024

#Science & technology

story

Above: A chimpanzee looks out from an enclosure after the official opening ceremony of Sydney Zoo on December 06, 2019, in Sydney, Australia. Image copyright: Mark Kolbe/Staff/Getty Images news via Getty Images

The Spin

While the Infinite Monkeys Theorem is technically true and fun to think about, these researchers have shown that it's just a paradox. Infinite Monkeys is like other paradoxes, such as fitting an infinite amount of balls in a vase or an object covering infinite fractions of a distance never reaching its destination — they have no basis in the real world of finite time or resources.

ScienceAlert

While monkeys may not be able to re-create famous works of art, other parts of the physical world, namely computers using AI machine learning, will be able to turn randomness into coherent pieces of text even in the style of writers like Shakespeare. AI will not only be able to re-write great literature but produce its own unique works for human consumption.

Research Gate

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 44% chance that by 2050, at least 25% of #1 NYT Best Selling Fiction will be primarily written by AI, according to the Metaculus prediction community.