Jeff Bezos: Heavy industry must move to the Moon to save Earth

Moving heavy industry into space is the only realistic way to combine economic growth and environmental protection. This was stated by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos during the VivaTech technology exhibition in Paris, emphasizing that this could allow Earth to gradually return to a state resembling the period before the Industrial Revolution.

According to Bezos, the future of industry lies off-planet, and the Moon is the natural and mandatory first step in that direction. He warned that heading straight to Mars is a strategic mistake because it overlooks the closer and more practical opportunity offered by Earth's natural satellite.

Bezos argued for the choice of the Moon based on several key factors. First is proximity and accessibility – the lunar surface can be reached in about three and a half days and is accessible at virtually any time, while the flight window to Mars opens approximately once every two years. This makes lunar logistics significantly more flexible.

Another important aspect is energy efficiency. According to him, lifting materials from the Moon requires about 28 times less energy per kilogram compared to launching them from Earth, thanks to the much weaker gravity. This, according to Bezos, is a fundamental advantage for building large-scale space infrastructure.

He emphasized that unlike the Apollo program, which he describes as a geopolitical "sprint," the goal of his company Blue Origin is a permanent and sustainable presence on the Moon. In his vision, lunar water ice will be processed into rocket fuel – for example, liquid oxygen – at a lower cost, and mineral resources on the surface will be used to build installations and orbital facilities.

In the long run, Bezos sees a future in which millions of people live and work in massive orbital habitats. In these space "cities," heavy industry will be concentrated, while Earth itself will remain home primarily to clean technologies, eco-friendly manufacturing, and high-efficiency services.

During his appearance, he also touched on the topic of artificial intelligence, providing more details about his venture, Prometheus. It is an AI model trained on specialized engineering data, aimed at significantly shortening the time for designing and creating physical products – for example, from 10 years to 5.

Bezos described this type of "AI engineering" as a key tool for accelerating innovation, especially in areas where complex simulation, optimization, and rapid prototyping are needed. According to him, the combination of space infrastructure and AI will open up entirely new industries.

In conclusion, the Amazon founder addressed young entrepreneurs with an optimistic message. He emphasized that the current moment is the "most opportunity-rich era in human history" and that it is the new generation that will have the chance to build an economy that grows without destroying the planet, turning it into a place for a more sustainable and high-quality life.