Monkeys Typing Shakespeare: A New Study Debunks the Myth

Researchers from Australia have clarified that the so-called "infinite monkey theorem" vastly overestimates the likelihood of monkeys producing complete works of literature, with findings suggesting that even all chimps combined would fall short.

A long-standing notion in the realm of mathematics and probability, the "infinite monkey theorem" suggests that a monkey randomly pressing keys on a typewriter would eventually produce the complete works of William Shakespeare if given unlimited time. However, a new study led by mathematicians Stephen Woodcock and Jay Falletta from Sydney has thrown this idea into question. Their research indicates that the duration required for even one monkey to recreate Shakespeare's plays, sonnets, and poems is longer than the lifespan of the universe itself.

While the theorem serves as a theoretical concept, the study found it can be misleading in practical applications. By examining both the typing capabilities of a single monkey and conducting calculations based on the global population of chimpanzees—estimated to be around 200,000—they determined that even if every chimp in the world typed once per second for their entire lives, the chances of generating Shakespeare's works would still be almost non-existent.

According to their findings, there is only a 5% probability of a single chimp correctly typing the word "bananas" during its lifetime. Moreover, the likelihood of constructing a coherent sentence, such as "I chimp, therefore I am," stands at an astronomical one in 10 million billion billion. The authors emphasize that increased typing speeds or larger populations of monkeys would not make the prospect any more feasible.

The calculations were grounded in the prevailing "heat death theory" regarding the eventual fate of the universe, which postulates an irreversible process of expansion and cooling. This "heat death" scenario, despite its name, would unfold in a slow and frigid manner over an unimaginably long timeframe.

As Associate Professor Woodcock remarked, this study positions the infinite monkey theorem alongside other paradoxes in probability theory that become impractical when confined by the realities of our universe. The essence of their work highlights the stark contrast between theoretical mathematics and the constraints of existence—significantly dimming the hopes of any literary contributions from our primate cousins.