CHIP WARS
Welcome to RAMmageddon
Tech giants are warning that the world is heading into a serious memory chip shortage, and it’s already pushing up prices for phones, laptops, cars, and data centres.
Companies like Apple, Tesla, Lenovo, and Cisco say shortages in DRAM (the basic memory used in most electronics) could limit production and hurt profits.
The main reason: AI data centres are eating up supply.
Firms like Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and OpenAI are buying huge numbers of Nvidia AI chips, which require massive amounts of memory.
That leaves less available for everyday electronics.
Memory prices have surged, with one type of DRAM jumping 75% in a single month.
Retailers are already adjusting prices daily, and analysts expect the squeeze to last through at least 2026.
The shortage is starting to delay and reshape major launches:
Sony may push its next PlayStation to 2028 or 2029
Smartphone makers are cutting shipment forecasts
Electronics firms are warning consumers to expect higher prices
Data centres are hungry
Chipmakers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are prioritising HBM, the high-end memory used for AI accelerators, because it’s more profitable.
That means less production capacity for standard DRAM.
And building new chip factories takes years, so supply won’t rebound quickly.
Let’s all calm down and go back to Windows Vista. - MV