Intel Celebrates 50th Anniversary of 4004: The World’s First Commercial Microprocessor

Intel is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 4004, the world's first commercially available microprocessor.

The 4004 was launched in November 1971 and opened the way for modern microprocessor computing - the "brains" that enable practically every modern technology, from the cloud to the edge.

Intel CEO, Pat Gelsinger said:

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 4004 chip. Think of how much we've accomplished in the past half-century. This is a sacred moment for technology. This is what made computing really take off! The 4004 is the pioneer microprocessor, and its success proved that it was possible to build complex integrated circuits and fit them on a chip the size of a fingernail. Its invention also established a new random logic design methodology, one that subsequent generations of microprocessors would be built upon, before evolving to create the chips found in today's modern devices".

Federico Faggin, former Intel engineer who designed and produced the Intel 4004 with Tedd Hoff and Stan Mazor also said:

"’Looking back at 1970, it was clear that microprocessors would change the way that we design systems, switching from using hardware to software instead. But the speed with which microprocessors developed over time and were adopted by the industry was really surprising".