The Indicator from Planet Money The Indicator from Planet Money

Even Moore’s law can't save affordable tech

Jul 29, 2026 · 8m

Summary

The AI boom is driving up memory prices, disrupting the long-held belief in Moore’s Law that electronics would consistently get cheaper and faster. Hosts Waylon Wong and Darian Woods explore how massive demand from companies like OpenAI is squeezing supply, forcing consumer brands like Apple and Nintendo to raise prices. Experts discuss whether technological innovation can sustain this growth or if the industry must fundamentally rethink computing beyond traditional semiconductor limits.

Topics discussed

Intro: AI demand spikes RAM prices, affecting consumer electronics Moore's Law history: Gordon Moore's prediction on transistor density Physical limits and IBM's sub-nanometer transistor breakthrough The 'RAMpocalypse': AI data centers consuming global memory supply Supply squeeze: Manufacturers pivot away from consumers to AI Future of computing: Rethinking technology beyond Moore's Law Credits and Workday advertisement
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