AI data centers are swallowing the world's memory and storage supply, setting the stage for a pricing apocalypse that could last a decade

AI data centers are consuming a significant portion of the world's memory and storage supply, leading to warnings of looming shortages of NAND and DRAM. This surge in demand is causing prices for SSDs and memory to skyrocket, with some experts predicting a shortage that could last a decade. The shift in pricing is attributed to the demands of AI and hyperscalers, causing a broad supply squeeze across the industry. Memory makers are redirecting their capital expenditure towards high-margin products like HBM, leading to tight supply for mainstream products like DDR4 and TLC NAND. The market is expected to remain elevated into 2026, with enterprise buyers having priority access to limited supply.