Peter Griffin: 'The AI revolution may be priceless. Your next device doesn't have to be'

Tech hardware costs are rising as the AI boom drives demand for advanced memory chips used in data centers. The article says AI-focused facilities need large quantities of DRAM (short-term working memory) and NAND flash (storage), and that chipmakers prioritize higher-margin orders from cloud giants. It cites Apple raising MacBook, MacBook Air, and iPad prices by 17–25% in June, with other makers expected to follow for the next generation of smartphones. Analyst TrendForce forecasts DRAM contract prices up 58–63% and NAND flash up 70–75% in the June quarter. IDC analyst Nabila Popal said the next two years will be extremely tough for consumer devices like laptops and smartphones, even if the price increase isn’t as extreme as past “PC for a car” eras. The piece recommends not panic-buying, choosing configurations for actual needs, avoiding minimal non-upgradeable memory such as 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, and considering repairs or external SSDs, while noting iCloud+ price hikes of 17–20% for 200GB accounts.