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In a podcast interview with Cheeky Pint, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argued that DRAM sitting idle in personal computers is a poor use of a globally limited resource, since it's only utilized a small fraction of the time. He said that in a supply-constrained environment, memory should instead be concentrated in cloud data centers for maximum utilization, pushing back against the idea that people should run AI models locally.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that keeping DRAM concentrated in data centers is more efficient than letting individuals run local inference on personal computers. He argued that memory sitting idle in personal machines most of the time represents poor use of a globally constrained resource, while cloud-based memory can be utilized at much higher rates.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in an interview with YouTube channel Cheeky Pint that having DRAM sit idle in personal computers most of the time is a poor use of the world's limited memory supply. He argued that cloud data centers achieve far higher utilization of RAM than home machines running local AI inference 5% of the time.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on the Cheeky Pint podcast that people running AI models locally on personal computers is an inefficient use of the world's limited DRAM supply. He argued that cloud-based inference through hyperscalers achieves better utilization than individual users hoarding memory chips for home use. His remarks came as Intel shares fell nearly 30 percent Friday amid a PC market slowdown that analysts linked partly to AI-driven component shortages.
SK Hynix reported Q3 2026 revenue of 104.6 trillion won ($78 billion), up 32% from the prior quarter, with operating profit of 83.3 trillion won and net profit of 39.8 trillion won, marking the first time it has topped 100 trillion won in quarterly revenue. The company credited surging DDR5 server memory sales, early HBM4 shipments, and growing NAND demand, and said it expects memory shortages driven by AI infrastructure buildout to continue for years.
China's largest DRAM manufacturer, CXMT, is reportedly set to begin limited production of advanced high-bandwidth memory chips within the next two months, despite yields suffering from a failure rate as high as 70%. The push comes amid China's broader effort to build domestic capacity for AI-critical memory chips.
Reports indicate Micron is stepping back from developing 4F² DRAM cell designs even as rival memory makers continue investing in the technology. The move marks a divergence in approach among major DRAM manufacturers over next-generation memory scaling techniques.
Micron has dropped 4F2 memory cells from its roadmap and instead plans to introduce wafer bonding starting with its 1ε DRAM process, following the 1δ node due for volume production in late 2027. For later nodes, codenamed zeta angstrom and eta angstrom, Micron says it will adopt High-NA EUV lithography and new materials to keep shrinking DRAM cells. CTO Scott DeBoer said the company is also developing 3D DRAM alongside new memory types like vertical HBM and vertical edge inference memory for direct integration atop processors.
Micron CTO Scott DeBoer said the company has decided not to pursue 4F² DRAM cell technology, which it invented, citing increased manufacturing complexity and cost without meaningful density gains. The announcement came during a company event, diverging from rivals Samsung and SK hynix, who reportedly still include 4F² designs in their roadmaps according to TechInsights.
According to a Fortune profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, Microsoft's next-generation console, codenamed Helix, is now targeted for the 2028 holiday season rather than 2027, with internal pricing estimates ranging from $1,200 to $1,800 unless subsidized. A separate Xbox-branded handheld capable of running digital console games could still arrive in 2027. Sharma is also reportedly planning to restructure Game Pass into an à la carte model with optional add-ons.
Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT saw its shares close 7.8% lower Monday despite forecasting net profit of 131-132.5 billion yuan ($19.58 billion) for the first nine months of 2026, reversing a 5.28 billion yuan loss a year earlier. The company also projected revenue of roughly 265-270 billion yuan, a jump of over 230 billion yuan from the same period last year, according to a regulatory filing.
Elon Musk criticized memory suppliers for 'extortionate' pricing during the ongoing DRAM and HBM shortage, without naming them directly, while praising Micron for taking a more 'reasonable' approach that he said builds long-term customer loyalty. Musk did not disclose specific pricing figures or contract terms for any supplier.