Amazon founder Jeff Bezos spends over Rs 349 crore to build a clock, here is why

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has spent $42 million (around Rs 349 crore) to finance the development of a colossal clock, designed to tick for an astounding 10,000 years. Here are the details.

In Short

• Amazon founder Jeff Bezos spends over Rs 349 crore to build a clock.
• This is a colossal clock, designed to tick for an astounding 10,000 years.
• The clock reportedly symbolizes his belief in a promising future for humanity.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has spent $42 million (around Rs 349 crore) to finance the development of a colossal clock. It is designed to tick for an astounding 10,000 years, Fox News reported. Referred to as "The Clock of the Long Now," this timekeeping marvel is currently in the process of being constructed within a Texas mountain, conceived by computer scientist and inventor Danny Hillis.

Soaring to an impressive height of 500 feet, The Clock of the Long Now is conceived not only as a feat of engineering but also as a masterpiece of artistry. The cited source says the schedule of the clock involves ticking once annually, bonging every century, and cuckooing once per millennium. Bezos envisions it as an emblem of long-term thinking, serving as a reminder of humanity's obligations to future generations.

Developed to use the Earth's thermal cycles for power, The Clock of the Long Now is a project spearheaded by the Long Now Foundation. Emphasizing its monumental scale, the foundation points out that the clock's engineering for minimal maintenance and its reliance on mechanical energy derived from sunlight and visitor interaction.

As highlighted on the foundation's website, the clock's chime generator is poised to generate over 3.5 million unique bell chime sequences—one for each day the clock is visited over the next 10,000 years. The clock's primary objective is to maintain precise timekeeping throughout this extensive period, symbolizing a dedication to long-term thinking.

For Jeff Bezos, inspired by Danny Hillis's visionary concept, the clock symbolizes his belief in a promising future for humanity. As a supporter of long-term thinking, Bezos perceives this investment as a catalyst for drawing attention to our responsibilities to future generations.

Besides, in a recent episode, Bezos revealed his plans for space exploration too. In an episode of the "Lex Fridman Podcast," he disclosed the motives behind his decision to step down as the CEO of the e-commerce giant two years ago. Bezos cited a deep-seated commitment to his space exploration venture, Blue Origin, as the primary driver for relinquishing his role at Amazon.

Established in 1994, Amazon flourished under Bezos's leadership. However, he felt compelled to redirect his attention to Blue Origin, stressing the need for a renewed sense of urgency in advancing the ambitious goals of the rocket company. Bezos also pointed out that juggling responsibilities at both Amazon and Blue Origin would have been intense, given the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of space exploration.

Published By:
Ankita Garg
Published On:
Dec 19, 2023