Arduino is raising prices for its Uno Q microcomputer by $15-20, effective July 6th, citing a doubling of memory component costs driven by AI demand. This follows similar price hikes by Apple and Microsoft for their hardware.
Apple's stock experienced its worst single session in over a year, falling over 6%, following announcements of substantial price increases on MacBooks and iPads, attributed to rising memory costs. Despite concerns about potential demand destruction, analysts suggest Apple's scale and supplier relationships provide an advantage over competitors.
Smartphone memory is now the most expensive component, exceeding processors and displays. Costs have doubled multiple times, leading to price increases of up to $100 for new models and significant jumps in markets like India. Consumers are advised to buy ahead of further price hikes.
TikTok owner ByteDance is ramping up its spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure, boosting its planned capital expenditure this year to more than 200 billion yuan (US$30 billion), according to two people familiar with the matter. This represented an increase of at least 25 per cent compared with a preliminary plan discussed late last year that proposed AI capex of 160 billion yuan, they said. The increase was necessary because of the company’s growing commitment to AI, as well as...
During Apple's Q2 2026 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook warned that rising memory costs will significantly impact the company starting in the June quarter, suggesting these expenses may be passed on to consumers. Cook indicated Apple is evaluating a "range of options" to handle the increasing costs, which have already begun affecting margins. Meanwhile, Apple faces immediate supply constraints for Mac products including Mac mini, Mac Studio, and MacBook Neo due to SoC processor shortages, with balance not expected for several months.
Apple CEO Tim Cook warned that rising memory costs will increasingly impact the company's business as AI infrastructure demand creates a worldwide supply crunch. During Apple's earnings call, Cook said the impact would be significant for several Mac models in the June quarter. The warning came after Microsoft and Meta projected higher capital expenditures due to component price increases, with Microsoft anticipating a $25 billion impact and Meta raising its capex forecast to up to $145 billion. Memory maker Micron's stock has surged 570% in the past year as AI chips and data centers consume unprecedented supply.
Artificial intelligence investments by US tech giants continue to soar, dwarfing those of Chinese AI firms, but China’s rising appetite for AI applications will compel its tech companies to increase their AI spending this year, according to analysts. The largest US tech companies are on track for more than US$700 billion in AI capital expenditures this year, driven in part by rising memory costs and continuously growing demand for AI applications. Google and Microsoft on Thursday both said that...
