When high-profile CEOs depart from their roles, they often enter a phase akin to hibernation. They step back from the limelight to heal their injuries. Occasionally, they do not return at all.
It has not been the same situation for Pat Gelsinger, who was ousted as CEO of Intel last autumn. Shortly after leaving his position, he returned to social media, offering prayers for his ex-colleagues at Intel and promoting emerging technologies and concepts.
Over the past few weeks, he has been attending technology conferences and appearing on cable television news programs to promote his ideas about the future of innovation. At 64 years old, Gelsinger has recently joined a venture capital firm and taken up roles as chairman of the boards for two emerging tech firms.
On Tuesday, Gelsinger returned to Oregon to deliver a speech at George Fox University about how his Christian beliefs influence his perspective on technology. He also took the opportunity to reminisce about his tenure at Intel and discuss his sudden departure at the start of December.
"December 1st started off as one of the worst few days for me," Gelsinger stated to a full auditorium. He did not go into detail about what led to his departure, but it was evident that he had not seen it coming.
Following his mandatory retirement, Gelsinder mentioned that he frequently felt "angry, upset, and resentful towards the board." However, at other moments, he stated that he believed "God is in control and has a purpose."
Gelsigner began his journey with Intel when he was just 18 years old and dedicated the initial three decades of his professional life to the firm, primarily working in Oregon, where he climbed the ranks to become their inaugural Chief Technology Officer. He departed from Intel in 2009 and subsequently took up the role as the CEO of VMware, a software enterprise based in Silicon Valley. Gelsinger came back to Intel in 2021 As CEO, tasked with rejuvenating the chip manufacturer’s faltering technology.
The recovery strategy that Gelsinger presented involved investing tens of billions of dollars in new facilities in the U.S. and globally. He also played a key role in steering the CHIPS Act through Congress in 2022. brokered $7.9 billion in governmental support for Intel .
Intel’s buying frenzy occurred simultaneously as demand for its PC chips declined and a move towards more sophisticated processors for artificial intelligence took place. This is an area where Intel currently does not have any footing.
The outcome was a significant drop in both Intel’s earnings and stock value, with the latter halving during Gelsinger’s final year as CEO. To cut expenses, the firm axed 15,000 positions over the autumn season.
Neither Intel nor Gelsinger have clarified what caused his departure in December. The previous month, the firm appointed ex-Intel board member Lip-Bu Tan as his successor.
Although Gelsinger did not share any insights into Intel’s future during his speech on Wednesday, it was evident that the company remains integral to his sense of self. Over the course of his 40-minute presentation, he frequently revisited discussions about the firm’s founding figures, key leaders, and technologies he had been involved with during his tenure as an employee.
Gelsinger emphasized the future of artificial intelligence, stating that it will be "far more significant" than the internet.
"For the history of computing, we have adjusted ourselves to the computer's language. However, with AI, the computers are learning to understand us," Gelsinger stated.
It conveys an optimistic outlook, yet Gelsigner pointed out that the value of any new technology hinges on its usage. He stated that social media has turned into a "catastrophe," which he partly blames on individuals with religious beliefs not engaging sufficiently to establish a constructive atmosphere online.
Classic computing, artificial intelligence, and the burgeoning domain of quantum computing form what he described as a "trinity" of technologies capable of tackling "the most challenging issues facing the world." However, Gelsinger emphasized that it falls upon individuals with strong beliefs, himself included, to guarantee these technological advancements are utilized for beneficial purposes.
"I'm not finished," he stated.
— Mike Rogoway Covers Oregon's tech sector and economic landscape. Contact him at mrogoway@oregonian.com or 503-294-7699.
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