Gordon Moore, the American tech pioneer who co-founded Intel, has died at the age of 94. Intel confirmed the death in a formal statement, noting the veteran innovator passed away March 24 at his Hawaii home surrounded by family.
Pat Gelsinger, Intel’s chief executive, reflected on Moore’s lasting influence, saying, “Moore defined the technology industry with his knowledge and vision.” He added that Moore’s opportunities shaped much of his own career and life at Intel.
Gelsinger emphasized that carrying forward Moore’s legacy is both an honor and a responsibility for the company’s leadership and staff. The sentiment echoed a broad sense of gratitude within the tech community for Moore’s contributions to modern computing.
Moore co-founded Intel in 1968 alongside Robert Noyce, and he remained a pivotal figure at the company from its early years through his retirement in 2006. His work helped spark a wave of innovations in microprocessors that powered personal computers, data centers, and countless devices around the world.
Beyond his role at Intel, Gordon Moore is widely remembered for Moore’s Law, a forecasting principle predicting that transistor density on integrated circuits would double approximately every two years. This idea set a clear benchmark that guided decades of research, investment, and strategic planning across the semiconductor industry. The ripple effect of this insight touched manufacturers, researchers, and students globally, influencing how technology evolves and how tech talent builds careers.
Moore’s impact extended into philanthropy and science policy, where his support helped fund research initiatives and education in science and engineering. His legacy lives on in the countless engineers inspired by his approach to problem solving, his insistence on rigorous experimentation, and his emphasis on the intersection of technology and practical, real-world applications.
Intel’s leadership acknowledged the broader implications of Moore’s work for the tech ecosystem. In many conversations since his passing, industry peers have highlighted how his ideas created a shared horizon for innovation, pushing teams to imagine what comes next in computing power, efficiency, and affordability. The moment invites reflection on how a single founder’s vision can shape a company’s culture and a whole industry’s trajectory.
The narrative around Moore’s life is not just about a landmark career in silicon valley. It is about decades of sustained curiosity, a relentless drive to solve hard technical problems, and a belief that electricity and clever engineering can liberate people to do more with technology. In remembering his contributions, the tech world continues to explore new materials, architectures, and methods to extend the pace of advancement that he helped ignite. [Citation: Intel press statement]