Chip Industry Pioneer Gordon Moore Dies: He Co-Founded Intel and Predicted the Rise of the PC

“Integrated circuits will lead to wonders like home computers, or at least terminals connected to a central computer, automatic controls for cars, and portable and personal communications equipment.”

When Gordon Moore wrote such a paragraph, back in 1965, in an article published in Electronics there were a good handful of years left for the PC revolution or for Microsoft or Apple to even get going. Thanks to this perspective, the formulation of the “Moore’s Law” and especially his role as co-founder of Intel, Moore carved out a leading role in the technological history of the 20th century.

Yesterday he wrote his last personal chapter. How have they handled confirm Intel itself and the foundation that bears his name, the engineer and businessman passed away at his home in Hawaii, along with his family. He was 94 years old. And he leaves a deep mark in the sector that makes him a pioneer in the semiconductor industry.

An industry pioneer

His name is associated with two great achievements. Both related to semiconductors, but in different spheres: academic and business. Of the two, perhaps the best known is the latter, which he earned thanks to his crucial role in starting Intel, which he co-founded in 1968 together with his colleague robert noyce. Before both had embarked on the launch of Fairchild Semiconductora pioneer company in the manufacture of transistors and integrated circuits.

Upon joining Intel, Moore assumed a management role, first as Executive Vice President and later as Executive Vice President. from 1975, at the head of different positions that he chained until in 1997 he became president emeritus. In 2006, at the gates of 80 years, he resigned. From then on he divided his time between California and Hawaii, leading the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

“Moore defined the technology industry through his insight and vision. He was instrumental in revealing the power of transistors and inspiring technologists and entrepreneurs for decades.” highlights Pat GelsingerCEO of Intel.

Today, we lost a visionary.

Gordon Moore, thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/bAiBAtmd9K

—Intel (@intel) March 25, 2023

His reflection connects with the other merit with which Moore is often associated and which completes his profile as a pioneer and entrepreneur: the law that bears his name, formulated in 1965 and which predicted that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit would double every year. In 1975 he revised his estimate and concluded that the doubling of transistors would occur every two years over the next decade.

Both forecasts share the same underlying idea, as Intel recalls: that chip technology would develop at an exponential rate that would allow consumer electronics to become ever faster, smaller, and also cheaper. “What I was trying to get across was that message, that by putting more and more stuff on a chip we would make all electronics cheaper.” explained Moore himself decades later, in 2008.

His predictions helped drive Intel and other chipmakers to invest heavily in research and development, though in recent years Intel rivals such as Nvidia have have concluded there is a slowdown in chip manufacturing improvements, so Moore’s Law would already be being fulfilled.

Throughout his life, he also received outstanding recognitions, such as the National Medal of Technology, awarded by George HW Bush in 1990, or the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received in 2002. His name already appears in the technological chronicle of the 20th century, linked to a stage that Silicon Valley was emerging and prospering.

Images: On Innovation (Flickr)