Sam Altman: RAM is better placed in data centers than in personal computers
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking about the RAM shortage on the Cheeky Pint podcast, said that putting RAM in personal PCs rather than data centers is "bad." Samsung and SK Hynix have signed long-term agreements with cloud service providers and projects such as OpenAI's Stargate, locking up most of the world's RAM production capacity for the next few years, which is also the reason for the current price increases in laptops, phones and other devices.
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Asked about supply chain shortages, like the ongoing RAM shortage , OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in an interview that it’s “terrible” to have RAM in personal PCs instead of data centers. During his appearance on the Cheeky Pint podcast, where he also commented on AI’s impact on math , Altman said:
Whether Altman meant your gaming PC or developers working with something like the Surface RTX Spark Dev Box or the new touchscreen MacBook Pro , the outcome is the same. Right now, memory companies Samsung and SK Hynix have long term deals with cloud service operators and projects like OpenAI’s Stargate that have reserved much of the world’s RAM output over the next few years. And the billions they’re willing to lay out for chips is why the laptops, phones, and other tech you use are getting more expensive right now.