AI boom could keep memory prices high until 2030

The growing demand for memory from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers could keep supply tight and prices high for consumers, according to a TechRadar report by Benedict Collins. SK Hynix has predicted that a memory shortage could “persist through 2030.”

OpenAI’s Stargate data center project, announced in early 2025, was predicted to require 40% of global supply. The report says supply constraints were compounded when leading memory makers reduced production a few years earlier to help stabilize prices.

Memory producers control around 90% of global supply. The report says it is uncertain how they will allocate production as AI companies seek high-bandwidth memory for training and inference. It suggests manufacturers could shift more capacity toward those products because of the revenue difference between AI and consumer memory markets.

Other sectors could add to demand. Robotics companies are developing humanoid machines and fleets of small warehouse robots, while autonomous taxis and cargo trucks also need memory to run AI systems. The report argues that wider use of such systems could increase competition for memory used in consumer devices.

It also points to possible changes in consumer demand if AI-related workplace changes reduce hiring or employment. The report presents these factors as reasons the memory market may remain constrained, while SK Hynix’s forecast extends the potential shortage through 2030.