All articles tagged with #chip shortage
Arm CEO Rene Haas says AI will eventually help cure cancer, but modelling DNA markers is too complex today; progress is slowed by a global chip shortage that's delaying AI data-centre rollouts and humanoid-robot deployments. He doubts UK fabs will be built, notes Arm powers half of AI data centres and reports strong demand for its Arm AGI chips, while predicting only modest job losses amid ongoing AI investment.
AI-driven demand is squeezing DRAM and other semiconductors, pushing up prices for memory and components. This has led to higher costs for everyday electronics—phones, laptops and game consoles—with manufacturers like Apple, Nintendo and Valve raising prices and some models seeing price hikes of up to about 20% or more. DRAM costs have surged several-fold, and suppliers are prioritizing high-bandwidth memory for AI while redesigning products to offset shortages. Industry forecasts suggest shortages could last through the AI cycle into the coming years, prompting continued price increases and shifts in pricing, specs, and strategies for both premium and budget devices.
Microsoft raises Xbox Series S price to $499.99 by Aug 1, 2026, and PS5 Pro has climbed about $200 since its 2024 debut, as AI-driven memory demand and data-center expansion tighten supply. With gamers increasingly opting for handhelds and mobile gaming, plus higher development costs and inflation, the console market faces pricier hardware and a shrinking audience—potentially lasting into the 2030s.
Nvidia and SK Hynix are expected to announce a cooperative plan in Seoul as Jensen Huang warns the memory shortage will persist for several years, with collaboration spanning AI supercomputers, CPUs, PCs, and robotics amid a strained supply chain from wafers to packaging.
Nvidia and SK Hynix are set to unveil a cooperation plan as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the global memory shortage will persist for several years, with Huang and SK Chairman Chey Tae-won briefing media in Seoul about collaborations across AI supercomputers, CPUs, new PCs and robotics amid tight supply chains.
Apple has discontinued the 256GB Mac Mini that sold for $599 and rolled out a new entry-level Mac Mini at $799 with 512GB of storage. Both models reportedly include 16GB of RAM, while the higher-end version uses an M4 chip. The change comes amid ongoing supply constraints and a global memory-chip shortage, with Tim Cook noting that meeting demand may be difficult.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says a touchscreen MacBook Pro is still in the works but due to a global memory chip shortage it’s now expected to ship in early 2027 (late 2026 was the previous window), while a Mac Studio refresh is anticipated around October 2026 with M5-series chips. The high-end laptops would feature touch support, OLED, Dynamic Island, and a thinner design (potentially under a MacBook Ultra branding) with macOS 27 offering a touch-friendly interface; no major redesign is planned for Mac Studio. Overall, launches are pushed back to 2027 for the MacBook Pro and to October 2026 for the Mac Studio.
Meta says RAM shortages are driving price hikes for Quest headsets effective April 19: Quest 3 up $100 to $599; Quest 3S up to $350 (128GB) or $450 (256GB); refurbished Quest 3 up $100 to $550; refurbished Quest 3S up to $320 (128GB) or $410 (256GB). Accessories unchanged; no immediate price changes for smart glasses. A correction notes the refurbished Quest 3 increase is $100, not $170.
Despite the ongoing chip shortage, there are numerous discounts on gaming laptops, PCs, and accessories, making it a good time to buy before prices rise with new AI-driven models. The article highlights specific deals on gaming hardware, Apple products, monitors, and peripherals, emphasizing the opportunity to upgrade or build gaming setups at reduced prices.
Global consumer electronics prices are expected to rise by around 20% in 2026 due to a surge in demand for AI-related memory chips and semiconductors, leading to a supply crunch and increased production costs for manufacturers like Dell, Xiaomi, Lenovo, and Raspberry Pi, with supply chain tensions exacerbated by geopolitical factors.
A global chip shortage is expected to cause a 20% increase in consumer electronics prices, highlighting ongoing supply chain issues affecting the tech industry.
Shares of European automakers rose as China indicated it would consider exemptions for Nexperia chip exports, easing fears of a worsening semiconductor shortage caused by recent export restrictions and government interventions, which had previously threatened auto production.
US auto plants are facing potential significant impacts on vehicle production within two to four weeks due to a conflict with China over chipmaker Nexperia, which supplies critical older-technology chips. Major automakers like Ford, GM, and Stellantis are working to mitigate disruptions as China blocks exports of Nexperia chips in response to geopolitical tensions, risking industry-wide production delays.
Nexperia warned Japanese automakers that it may no longer guarantee supply due to geopolitical conflicts following Dutch government seizure and US-China tensions, raising concerns about disruptions in the global automotive supply chain, especially for electronic control units.
A trade dispute involving Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, critical for auto manufacturing, could lead to auto plant shutdowns and higher car prices, as tensions between the US, China, and the Netherlands threaten the supply of essential automotive chips, exacerbating existing supply chain issues and increasing vehicle costs.