Apple, Microsoft raise prices as AI chip shortage deepens - MSN

Major tech giants Apple and Microsoft have significantly raised product prices due to AI chip shortages, highlighting the semiconductor industry's current challenges. As artificial intelligence techno... Read original →

The AI chip shortage is triggering a structural realignment across the semiconductor ecosystem. Technically, HBM and advanced packaging capacity is being diverted to data centers, directly squeezing consumer DRAM and NAND supply—forcing Apple and Microsoft to pass costs downstream. This isn’t mere scarcity; it’s a recalibration of compute priority. On compliance, U.S. export controls and constrained TSMC/Samsung expansions amplify supply chain fragility, compelling firms to build 'geopolitical redundancy' that lifts operational costs by over 15%. Strategically, Google and Amazon may accelerate in-house TPU/NPU development to reduce external reliance, while Intel pushes its foundry-plus-packaging bundle to capture share. Over the next 12–24 months, consumer device performance upgrades will plateau temporarily as memory makers keep capex focused on AI. The shortage marks the dawn of a new Moore’s Law: bandwidth equals power—who controls high-end memory throughput dictates next-gen hardware dominance.