{
  "id": 389900,
  "title": "Memory prices have erased 20 years of progress in a single year, researcher says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/memory-prices-have-erased-20-years-of-progress-in-a-single-year",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-09T16:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechSpot",
    "slug": "techspot",
    "url": "https://www.techspot.com/news/113406-memory-prices-have-surged-2007-levels-after-decades.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Memory prices have surged to levels last seen in 2007, erasing two decades of steady cost reductions, according to computer scientist Daniel Lemire. This sharp increase, driven primarily by demand from the artificial intelligence sector, has pushed global prices up by more than 400% since the beginning of 2024. The crisis is not limited to dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips, as flash memory shortages have also driven up the cost of solid-state drives (SSDs), memory cards, and external storage devices. Major tech brands, including HP, Dell, Apple, Sony, and Nintendo, have raised prices for laptops, MacBooks, gaming consoles, and smartphones. Industry experts predict that the memory crisis could continue into 2030, potentially triggered by speculative investment bubbles in the AI industry.",
  "summary": "According to computer science researcher and software performance expert Daniel Lemire, skyrocketing memory prices are a \"historical anomaly,\" with the unprecedented increases effectively erasing decades of steady, exponential cost reductions. Read Entire Article",
  "key_points": [
    "Memory prices have surged to 2007 levels, erasing 20 years of progress",
    "AI sector demand primarily drives price increase, 400% rise since 2024",
    "Tech brands raise prices for laptops, consoles, smartphones, crisis may persist until 2030"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}