Co-Founder of Intel and Pioneer of the Semiconductor Industry, Gordon Moore, Passes Away at 94

Intel co-founder Gordon Moore passed away on March 24 at the age of 94. He was a pioneer in the semiconductor industry and is famous for proposing "Moore's Law," which predicts that computer processing power will double every few decades. Intel and Moore's family charity foundation confirmed that he passed away at his home in Hawaii with his family by his side.

Moore was the co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor, another semiconductor industry pioneer, and in 1968 he co-founded Intel with Robert Noyce. Under their leadership, Intel grew into an industry giant, becoming the world's leading semiconductor manufacturer at its peak. More than 80% of personal computers worldwide used Intel Inside processors. Moore served as Intel's CEO from 1975 to 1987.

In 1965, Moore wrote that since the invention of the integrated circuit a few years earlier, the number of transistors that could be packed onto a single chip would roughly double every year, due to advances in technology. He predicted that this trend would continue, which became known as Moore's Law. Later, the law was revised to state that the density of transistors on a chip would double every 18 to 24 months. This law became the guiding principle for the speed of semiconductor process technology.

Many chip industry leaders and observers have claimed that "Moore's Law is dead" and no longer applicable, as some materials used in semiconductor manufacturing are now only one atom thick, reaching a physical limit. However, the basic principle of Moore's Law still influences investment decisions today.

In January 2022, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger stated in an interview that "Intel will still be the steward of Moore's Law for decades to come." He described the law as still alive and well, and said, "We will make it even stronger with age."

The passing of Gordon Moore is a significant loss for the industry, and highlights the importance of his contributions in driving the growth and evolution of semiconductor technology.