Jeff Bezos, the mind behind Amazon and space exploration company Blue Origin, is now pouring his vision and finances into a remarkably ambitious project: a giant clock embedded within a Texas mountain, designed to last 10,000 years.
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Dubbed the 10,000-Year Clock, this venture is more than just an elaborate timekeeper; it's a massive $42 million commitment to encourage long-term thinking on a global scale. This clock will tick once a year, chime every century, and its cuckoo will emerge every millennium.
Inventor Danny Hillis first imagined the concept in 1989. He envisioned a clock that ticks once a year, chimes every century, and the cuckoo comes out every millennium. "I want to build a clock that ticks once a year, where the cuckoo comes out every millennium," Hillis famously stated, as reported by Wired. The mechanism is a feat of engineering, designed to operate through day-night thermal cycles and constructed to withstand the test of time without human intervention.
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Bezos elaborated on his motivations for backing this extraordinary project while appearing on the Lex Fridman Podcast. "It's a symbol for long-term thinking. This clock is meant to remind us that we should be thinking long term about our children, their children and people thousands of years from now," Bezos explained. He sees the clock as a tool to inspire generations to think beyond the immediate future, emphasizing sustainability and responsibility.
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Positioned inside the Sierra Diablo Mountain Range, the clock's remote location requires a significant journey, which Bezos believes adds to its contemplative impact. "It's in a remote location to protect it and make visiting it a pilgrimage. It's about long-term thinking," he said, noting the importance of the location as part of the experience.
Despite its visionary goals, the project has not been without criticism. Some see it as a vanity project, distracting from pressing issues such as climate change and economic disparity. Critics argue that monumental funds might be better spent addressing these immediate challenges rather than on symbolic gestures.
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Yet, Bezos remains optimistic about the clock's potential to shift perspectives, drawing parallels to influential projects like Blue Origin. "If people pay attention to the clock, they might start thinking more like we do at Blue Origin, focusing on long-term possibilities," he commented.
With a net worth of nearly $200 billion, Bezos is focusing on a legacy that extends far beyond his lifetime. He's channeling his resources into building the 10,000-Year Clock, reflecting his fascination with long-term viability and emphasizing his belief in the importance of thinking ahead for centuries, not just years. This initiative is a testament to what matters to him: sparking global interest in the long-term future and encouraging people to ponder the lasting effects of their actions today.
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