Memory chip crisis as AI explodes

DNVN - Tech giants such as Dell, HP, Lenovo... have warned of a memory chip shortage, which is expected to increase equipment prices next year. The main reason is the sharp increase in demand for artificial intelligence (AI) systems and data infrastructure - a consequence of the global AI race.

As many technology companies are pushing to develop AI and expand data infrastructure, the supply chain of memory chips - an important component in all electronic devices - is at risk of falling into a serious shortage.

Dell representatives said the company has never seen such a fluctuation in costs as it does now, due to the increasingly scarce supply of DRAM - dynamic random access memory - and NAND flash, especially the high-bandwidth type for machine learning and AI applications.

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Meanwhile, HP also admitted that production costs will increase, which could affect consumers in the second quarter of 2026 if supply does not improve.

Many manufacturers, such as Lenovo, have been proactively stockpiling memory chips to cope with the rising price trend. According to analysis from Counterpoint Research, memory modules could increase in price by as much as 50% by mid-2026.

The chip shortage not only affects computers, laptops, and phones, but can also spread to industries that use a lot of data storage devices such as medical , automotive, and industrial equipment - as every modern product needs memory chips to operate.

The shortage is due to the explosive demand for upgrading data infrastructure to serve AI, causing manufacturers to prioritize allocating memory chips to data centers and specialized servers rather than regular consumer devices. This affects the entire supply chain, causing prices for chips, components, and end devices to increase.

“Everything related to memory, from high-end modules to popular modules, is very scarce while demand is very high,” said Sanjeev Rana, an expert at CLSA Securities Korea.

With consumer markets slowly returning to normal after the pandemic, memory chip shortages could lead to higher device prices, a pressure that end users will find hard to avoid. Even companies with strong potential such as Dell and HP are forced to consider adjusting prices or cutting features to keep production costs down.

This poses a significant challenge for manufacturers, and warns consumers to prepare for a price increase in technology devices - especially smartphones, laptops and devices using DRAM/NAND - in the next 12-18 months.

Nguyen Bach

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/khung-hoang-chip-nho-khi-ai-bung-no/20251128101523864