There is no end in sight for the GPU supply problem

AI data centers are gobbling up memory as fast as it's manufactured. As companies push all their chips into the AI basket, GPU makers are shifting their resources to support the boom. The resulting memory shortage has had dire consequences for the consumer tech industry: Component prices are skyrocketing, supplies are dwindling, and everyday consumers are left holding the bag. Known colloquially as chipflation, the rise in GPU prices has vastly outpaced economy-wide inflation levels. According to a report by JP Morgan, by the end of 2026, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) prices will have risen by 400 percent since 2024.