Jeff Bezos, the wealthiest man on the planet and founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, is now building a clock with his millionaire scientist friend Danny Hills known as “Clock Of The Long Now.”
Jeff Bezos has built a $42 million project on his property inside a mountain in West Texas since 2018.
How will the Clock Work?
Jeff Bezos is building a 500-foot-tall mechanical clock on his property inside a mountain in West Texas. The clock will tick once a year and chime once per millennium. It will be powered by day/night thermal cycles and synchronized at solar noon. It will play melodies only once, at random intervals, playing unique tunes each time over 10,000 years.
The giant clock is also set to house five room-sized anniversary chambers for the 1-year, 10-year, 100-year, 1000-year, and 10,000-year anniversary of the clock’s completion.
When will the project be completed? There is no timeline started on Jeff’s website, but it does offer a mailing list for when it’s finished. Once completed, it will be open to the public. But due to its remote location, visiting the clock will take commitment.
The website states, “The nearest airport is several hours away by car, and the foot trail to the Clock is rugged, rising almost 2,000 feet above the valley floor”.
The idea behind the clock is that it will run for 10,000 years. This will remind future generations of the importance of thinking about the long-term consequences of our actions.
If a clock can keep going for ten millennia, shouldn’t we make sure our civilization does as well?
Is Jeff Bezos Fit to Lead a Timeless Legacy Amidst Environmental and Human Rights Concerns?
The billionaire founder of Amazon and Blue Origin is a significant financial backer of the 10,000-Year Clock project. But given his controversial record on environmental and social issues
Is he the right person to lead such a long-term initiative?
Environmental Concerns: Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, has been criticized for contributing to global warming through its rocket launches. What impact does this have on Bezos’ ability to lead a project focused on sustainability and long-term thinking?
Human Rights Concerns: Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, has been criticized for labor and human rights issues. Reports of poor working conditions and anti-union policies have been publicized. In January 2023, Amazon cut over 18,000 HR and consumer retail jobs to slash costs.
The Opportunity Cost of the 10,000-Year Clock: The $42 million invested in the 10,000-Year Clock project could have been used better. Many claim it should address pressing humanitarian issues like hunger or poverty. Given the urgent needs facing many people worldwide, does the investment in a long-term clock reflect a misplaced priority? The funds could have been better used to serve humanity.
