AI Memory Boom Sparks DRAM Shortage and Price Surge
The insatiable demand for AI infrastructure is reshaping global memory markets. DRAM prices have spiked as much as 60% this quarter, with Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron diverting production to high-margin HBM chips for data centers. The shift leaves automakers, smartphone manufacturers, and medical device companies scrambling for dwindling supplies of traditional DRAM.
Market analysts see no relief before 2026. Every ChatGPT query and Midjourney image generation relies on these memory modules—a dependency now choking supply chains. The AI Gold rush has turned memory into the new oil, with HBM emerging as the premium grade.
Consumer electronics will bear the brunt first. Expect smartphone price hikes by Q4 as manufacturers pass through memory costs. The auto industry faces production delays—modern vehicles use more DRAM than ever for infotainment and driver-assist systems.
