Intel CEO Asserts: Moore's Law Pace Slows Down, Yet Remains Relevant

At an MIT Manufacturing Distinguished speaker session, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger shared insights on the future of semiconductors and the state of Moore’s Law. He emphasized that although the rate of transistor doubling on microchips has slowed from a two-year to a three-year cycle, the underlying principle of Moore’s Law still holds significant value in the semiconductor industry.

Gelsinger acknowledged the increasing difficulty in maintaining Moore’s Law due to rising costs of new process technologies and a decline in transistor density gains from generation to generation. However, he contends that Moore’s Law is far from obsolete, countering the perspective of some industry critics.

To overcome these challenges, Intel is set to introduce several groundbreaking technologies in the coming years. Gelsinger highlighted four key innovations aimed at enabling Intel to achieve a trillion-transistor chip by the end of this decade. These include Gate All Around (GAA) transistors for enhanced performance and efficiency, and RibbonFET, the successor to FinFET, for improved power delivery through the backside of the CPU.

Combining these innovations, Intel is betting on achieving a trillion-transistor-based chip by 2030. Despite facing economic hardships in the semiconductor foundry market, including a doubling in the cost of modern fabs, Intel remains confident in its path to future success.