Study Calls 'Infinite Monkey Theorem' Into Question
Study Calls 'Infinite Monkey Theorem' Into Question
The Facts
A study published in the journal Franklin Open questioned the "Infinite Monkeys Theorem," which states that an infinite number of monkeys, given infinite time, would eventually produce the complete works of Shakespeare by typing randomly on a keyboard.
The study's authors say that while the theory is statistically possible, it doesn't account for finite time and resources, and thus is "misleading." Therefore, they re-evaluated the theory by adjusting for when the universe will end and how the monkey population.The study's authors say that while the theory is statistically possible, it doesn't account for finite time and resources, and thus is "misleading." Instead, they tested the theory by adjusting for when the universe will end and the monkey population.
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.
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.