Intel policy forces Moore's retirement

Gordon Moore, Co-Founder, Intel, 72, retired from Intel's Board of Directors after 33 years of service to the company he co-founded and helped turn into the world's pre-eminent chipmaker. Reed Hundt, Former Chairman, Federal Communications will fill Moore's position on the board. 

Moore's retirement came at Intel's annual shareholders meeting in Santa Clara. The retirement was forced by Intel's long-established policy that directors step down at the age of 72. Moore co-founded Intel in 1968 with the late Robert Noyce, after the two left Fairchild Semiconductor. 

Moore will be remembered for both co-founding Intel and for Moore's law, which states that chipmakers will double the number of transistors on a chip, and therewith the chip's power, every 18-24 months. 

Ironically, Moore made the prediction in 1968 when he was still at Fairchild. Moore said the law will hold true for another decade or two. But it will end some day. "No exponential ever goes on forever, without some kind of disaster happening at the end. Sure it has a limit. Materials are made of atoms, and we are not too far from where that starts to bite us." 

Moore said he intends to remain active as a consultant at Intel, a role he has played since giving up the chairmanship title in 1997. "I would miss it if I really backed away. This business is really exciting. It changes so fast. If the alternative is staying home and taking out the garbage, I want to stay close to the industry." 

Moore also said that the current economic downturn that has hammered Intel would not last forever. But, he added, no two downturns are alike. "You have got to be careful that you are not like the generals who plan to fight the last war. You have got to look at what the characteristics are. I don't know how this one will play out."