Jeff Bezos has an audacious plan to move industry into space – and rezone Earth as residential

Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon, thinks we should move industry into space and rezone Earth as a residential and light commercial zone.

At a talk with technologists at the Code Conference in California, he outlined his vision for moving heavy industry into space. Energy would be much more readily available, he argued. He sees space travel and exploration as a vital part of protecting life on earth.

“We could build gigantic chip factories in space and just send little bits down,” Fortune quote him as saying.

Bezos also sees a future for settlements on Mars, arguing that, “we will settle Mars. And we should, because it’s cool.” As this Economist graphic shows, Mars does show potential for human habitation.

It’s an undeniably audacious and visionary plan, so what did the media make of it?

A vision for the future which could protect the Earth. (The Telegraph, UK)

Global population growth and energy demand is driving the need to make space more accessible. (The New York Times)

The role of Bezos’s space exploration company, Blue Origin, in lowering the cost of space entrepreneurship. (Recode)

Bezos is not as Mars-focused as Elon Musk. (Business Insider)

His interview with also touched on a number of other issues.

The Amazon CEO and Washington Post owner emphasized his commitment to freedom of speech and press freedom (Fortune). He argued that even ugly speech deserves protection. “We don’t have to like it. We don’t have to invite those people to our dinner parties. But you should let them say it.”

He also explained why he doesn’t enforce strict agendas in his meetings (CNBC). He believes avoiding strict plans encourage innovation and creativity. “I like to wander. I like to go down blind alleys,” he argues.

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