Gordon Moore, the co-founder of Intel and creator of Moore’s Law, passed away on January 2, 2022, at the age of 94. Moore’s Law, which he first proposed in 1965, predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double every two years, leading to exponential growth in computing power.
Early Life and Career
Gordon Moore was born on January 3, 1929, in San Francisco, California. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and his PhD in chemistry and physics from the California Institute of Technology.
Moore began his career at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, where he worked on the development of the proximity fuze during World War II. He later worked at the Shockley Semiconductor Laboratory, where he met Robert Noyce, with whom he co-founded Intel in 1968.
Intel and Moore’s Law
Moore’s Law, first proposed in an article for Electronics Magazine in 1965, predicted that the number of transistors on a microchip would double every two years, leading to exponential growth in computing power. This prediction has proven remarkably accurate, with the number of transistors on a microchip increasing from a few thousand in the 1970s to billions today.
Under Moore’s leadership, Intel became one of the most successful and innovative companies in the technology industry. The company’s microprocessors powered the personal computer revolution, and its products continue to be essential components of modern electronics.
Philanthropy
In addition to his work at Intel, Moore was a generous philanthropist. He and his wife, Betty, founded the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in 2000, which focuses on environmental conservation, scientific research, and patient care.
Moore was also a signatory of The Giving Pledge, a commitment by the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to give the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.
Legacy
Gordon Moore’s contributions to the technology industry and to society as a whole cannot be overstated. His prediction of exponential growth in computing power has proven to be accurate, and his leadership at Intel helped drive innovation and progress in the industry.
Moore will be remembered as a brilliant scientist, a visionary entrepreneur, and a generous philanthropist. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of innovators and technology leaders.
