Soaring RAM prices are delivering an unintended consequence: cooling the relentless marketing push for so-called AI PCs. A shortage of memory chips, driven by insatiable data center demand for AI, has caused component costs to jump 40 to 70 percent. This forces PC makers to either raise prices significantly or ship machines with less memory, directly impacting the specs needed for on-device AI processing.

This supply crunch hits just as consumer and enterprise interest in local AI is wavering. For two years, OEMs like Dell tried to sell computers by promising on-device AI magic, but shoppers remained skeptical. With cloud-based AI tools widely available, the unique value of a powerful NPU and massive RAM inside a laptop feels less urgent to many buyers.

Analysts expect the memory shortage to persist into 2027, ensuring price hikes and lower-spec machines will dominate the market. Consequently, PC vendors are already pivoting their marketing back to basics like battery life and build quality rather than AI features. Dell, for instance, resurrected its XPS line with a renewed focus on traditional performance metrics rather than AI hype.