Gordon Moore, the co-founder and former chairman of Intel, passed away on September 6, 2021, at the age of 94. Moore was a pioneer in the semiconductor industry and is best known for his observation, now known as “Moore’s Law,” which predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double every two years, leading to exponential growth in computing power.
Moore was born on January 3, 1929, in San Francisco, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and his Ph.D. in chemistry and physics from the California Institute of Technology. In 1956, he co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor with Robert Noyce and six other colleagues. The company was a major player in the development of the integrated circuit, which revolutionized the electronics industry.
In 1968, Moore and Noyce founded Intel Corporation, which became one of the world’s largest and most successful semiconductor companies. Under Moore’s leadership, Intel developed the first microprocessor, which paved the way for the personal computer revolution. Moore served as Intel’s CEO from 1975 to 1987 and as chairman of the board from 1987 to 1997.
Moore’s Law, which he first articulated in a 1965 paper, has been a driving force behind the rapid advancement of technology over the past several decades. The law has held true for more than 50 years, with the number of transistors on a microchip increasing from just a few dozen in the 1970s to billions today. This exponential growth has led to the development of faster and more powerful computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices.
Moore was also a philanthropist and gave generously to educational institutions and scientific research. He and his wife, Betty, donated $600 million to the California Institute of Technology, the largest gift ever given to a university at the time.
In a statement, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said, “Gordon Moore’s genius and leadership have had a transformative impact on our world. We will miss him terribly, but his legacy will live on in the countless technologies and innovations that continue to shape our lives today.”
Moore’s passing is a loss not only for the technology industry but for the world at large. His contributions to science and technology have had a profound impact on society, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of innovators.
