In our ongoing Ask the Experts series, the Lucid Technology Solutions team are commenting on topical news stories from the technological sector. In our first instalment for 2026, we are looking at predicted price increases in electronics as a result of the AI boom. Read on to find out more about the story, and how we can help!
The Story: AI Driving Up Tech Costs
As the artificial intelligence sector continues to grow, surging demand is causing a spike in the price of electronic memory chips. The shortage of chips is predicted to have a significant impact on consumers in 2026 — as reported in the Financial Times on New Year’s Day, manufacturers are warning that the price of devices may rise by up to 20% this year!
The main problem here is that AI data centres require high-bandwidth memory chips, but consumer electronics typically use lower-end chips. Due to the boom in the AI market, chipmakers are prioritising these high-end chips, leading to a significant shortage of the chips needed to manufacture the products that we all use in our daily lives.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
A 20% price increase sounds worrying, but there are several steps you can take to minimise the impact that this market trend might have on your business.
- Ensure that your existing tech is being well-maintained and regularly updated, to minimise the risk of needing an imminent replacement.
- If you do need to replace some electronics, prioritise reliably meeting the needs of your business over getting the latest and most expensive innovations. If suitable, a basic model is likely to be comparably efficient and dependable (and a lot cheaper)!
Make Investments with the Experts
One of the best ways to ensure that you are getting the best technological value for money is to work with a professional IT provider like Lucid Technology Solutions!
After discussing your specific business needs, budget, and preferences, we can advise you on the best hardware and software to select. This might involve investing more heavily in one area of your business, modernising equipment to make the best use of your budget, or reducing the number of separate subscriptions that you are paying for. Once your set-up has been optimised, the Lucid Technology Solutions team can also maintain it for you, providing 24/7 IT support for your business.
For more information about working with Lucid Technology Solutions, you can contact our team here.