Sam Altman's Dirty DRAM Deal
5 days ago
- #DRAM shortage
- #OpenAI
- #hardware market
- DRAM prices surged by 156% in less than a month due to unexpected market shifts.
- OpenAI secretly secured 40% of global DRAM supply via deals with Samsung and SK Hynix, catching the industry off guard.
- The secrecy and scale of OpenAI's deals triggered panic buying among competitors and OEMs, exacerbating the shortage.
- The DRAM market lacked safety stock due to tariff uncertainties, falling prices, and stalled equipment transfers.
- OpenAI's purchases consist of raw wafers, not finished modules, raising concerns about artificial scarcity and market manipulation.
- The RAM shortage is expected to last at least six to nine months, with severe impacts on hardware availability and pricing.
- Products most affected include RAM, SSDs, prebuilt PCs, AMD GPUs, and potentially Xbox, while PlayStation may fare better due to prior planning.
- Nvidia GPUs and laptops may face delays or price hikes, but CPUs without RAM could see price drops.
- OpenAI's aggressive tactics may be aimed at maintaining its lead in AI by restricting competitors' access to essential DRAM supplies.
- The article calls for greater scrutiny of OpenAI's financial dealings and the broader implications of its market dominance.