AI data centers are gobbling up the world's memory supply. Your business will feel it.

AI data centers are gobbling up the world’s memory supply. And your business is going to feel it.

DRAM prices are up 172% year over year. NAND flash, the memory inside every SSD, is up 75% in a single quarter. Dell and Lenovo have already raised PC prices 15 to 20%. The shortage is not expected to ease until 2027 at the earliest. The SK Hynix chairman thinks it could last until 2030.

The cause is straightforward. Where traditional servers needed memory for one CPU, AI servers need it for the CPU plus every GPU card. The math adds up fast. Hyperscalers have locked up supply years in advance. What’s left for everyone else is shrinking fast.

For business operators the options are not great but they are clear. Take the hit on hardware refreshes. Extend the life of existing machines. Delay buying cycles until supply returns. Or accept that the laptops and servers you buy in 2026 will cost significantly more than what you paid a year ago.

The AI infrastructure frenzy is not slowing down. And it is taking your hardware budget with it.