Gordon Moore, one of the co-founders of Intel and a pioneer in the tech industry passed away at the age of 94. Intel announced the news in a press release, noting that Moore had played a key role in the development of modern computing devices.
Moore was part of the “traitorous eight,” a group of scientists who left Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory in 1957 to start their own company, Fairchild Semiconductor. The company eventually became an incubator for other Silicon Valley startups, including AMD. Moore and Robert Noyce, another member of the eight, went on to found Intel in 1968.
Moore served as chairman and CEO of Intel from 1979 to 1987, during which time he helped to shape the company into the tech giant it is today. However, his most lasting contribution to the tech industry may be “Moore’s law,” his 1965 prediction that processors would double in transistor count every year. While the prediction is no longer accurate, the idea held true for many years and drove the industry forward.
In a statement from The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Moore acknowledged the impact of his prediction, stating, “once I made a successful prediction, I avoided making another.” In recent years, Moore focused on philanthropic pursuits, working with his wife on environmental conservation, scientific research, higher education, and other causes.
Intel paid tribute to Moore’s legacy by naming its new Oregon facility after him. “Gordon Moore Park” had its grand opening in April 2022. Moore’s contributions to the tech industry will continue to be felt for years to come, and his passing marks the end of an era in Silicon Valley.
