# Altman criticises underused PC memory amid global RAM shortages

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/sam-altman-is-upset-at-you-for-hoarding-ram-in-your-own-computer/
- Published: 2026-10-31T15:07:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T15:23:45+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2303266/sam-altman-says-its-terrible-dram-computer/
- Topics: Gadgets

## Key points

- Altman criticised keeping underused DRAM in personal computers.
- AI data centre demand is contributing to RAM shortages and higher prices.
- OpenAI agreements are tied to roughly 40 per cent of RAM output.

## Summary

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman called it “quite terrible” for people to keep large amounts of the world’s limited DRAM supply in personal computers when they use it only a small fraction of the time. He was discussing local AI inference during an interview, arguing that cloud computing should make better use of scarce memory; his comments have drawn criticism amid shortages and rising prices.

The article says AI data centres have increased demand for RAM, pushing up costs for memory and devices that contain it. OpenAI has agreements tied to roughly 40 per cent of global RAM output, while many people also need substantial memory for gaming, streaming and video editing, not just running AI models locally. Manufacturers are passing higher memory costs on to consumers.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.