DRAM Won't Get Cheaper: Robots Will Become a New Major Consumer of Memory

DRAM Won’t Get Cheaper: Humanoid Robots Are Becoming a New Driver of Memory Demand

The global shortage of RAM and storage, projected for 2027-2028, could intensify due to the rapid growth of robotics. Micron, one of the world’s leading manufacturers, expects AI-driven humanoid robots to become a major memory consumer by the end of the decade, offsetting a potential decline in demand from other sectors.

Memory manufacturers, including Micron, are already seeing strong demand that exceeds their production capacity. Although producing HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) for AI systems has proved less profitable for Micron than conventional DRAM, a significant share of output in 2027 is already expected to be sold at the higher set prices. Micron’s CFO forecasts that the company’s lowest gross margin will come in 2027, after which modest price growth and, accordingly, profits are expected.

New Horizons for Memory Consumption

According to Micron’s estimates, each future humanoid robot will require around 200 GB of RAM and several terabytes of persistent storage. The company says that several firms working on the physical embodiment of AI are already testing its latest products. By 2030, Micron projects that humanoid robots will consume around 240 million GB of DRAM, and this demand will only keep growing.

This means that even if demand falls in certain segments linked to the “AI bubble,” memory makers will have a new major customer. However, such a reallocation of production capacity will inevitably affect the consumer electronics industry, where component prices, including DDR5 memory for laptops, have already risen sixfold over the past year.

Investment in the Future and Market Uncertainty

Micron plans significant capital expenditures to expand its production capacity. In the first half of next year, the company plans to invest $25 billion, and in the second half of the year that amount could double. Most of these investments are directed toward building new factories that are expected to come online at the end of 2028.

Despite the projected increase in production, most analysts agree that the memory and storage market will face a severe shortage in 2027-2028. It remains unclear when, and whether, the additional production capacity will fully balance the growing demand.

Roman Spas

Roman Spas is the author of a blog about website development, IT news, web project promotion, design and modern technologies. In his materials, he explains complex digital topics in simple language, shares practical advice for website owners, entrepreneurs, marketers and specialists who want to better understand the online environment. The author's main focus is on effective websites, SEO, web design, internet marketing and technological solutions that help businesses develop in the digital space.