--- title: "Sam Altman's PC RAM comments: memory in home computers is a bad use of supply" description: "OpenAI's CEO says RAM belongs in data centers, while shortage forecasts run to 2030 and prices for laptops, phones and consoles rise." url: https://tech.skoop.news/sam-altman-says-its-better-for-ram-to-be-in-a-data-center-th--10-30/ published: 2026-10-31T04:13:56.888468-04:00 modified: 2026-10-31T04:13:56.888498-04:00 section: "Tech & Apps" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["SK Hynix", "Cheeky Pint", "Sam Altman", "DRAM", "OpenAI", "RAM", "Samsung", "tech"] hashtags: ["#SKHynix", "#CheekyPint", "#SamAltman", "#Tech", "#ai"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/SK_Hynix_DDR5_form_factors.jpg/1280px-SK_Hynix_DDR5_form_factors.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Sam Altman's PC RAM comments: memory in home computers is a bad use of supply > OpenAI's CEO says RAM belongs in data centers, while shortage forecasts run to 2030 and prices for laptops, phones and consoles rise. Published 2026-10-31 · Updated 2026-10-31 · Tech & Apps, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - From now until 2029, OpenAI owns 40% of the world's supply of DRAM [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/chatgpt-open-ai-sam-altman-youtube-interview-vram-supply-cost-data/). - Altman said that many people want local inference and assume the problem is solved because open-source models will let them run models on their own computers [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). - OpenAI's primary business is in closed-source models that run in data centers, though it does have some open-source models [[3]](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/openai-ceo-says-its-quite-terrible-for-your-pc-to-have-ram-sam-altman-says-data-centers-offer-better-utilization). ## What Altman said about RAM From now until 2029, OpenAI owns 40% of the world's supply of DRAM [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/chatgpt-open-ai-sam-altman-youtube-interview-vram-supply-cost-data/). Its CEO, Sam Altman, has now said it is terrible to have RAM in personal PCs instead of data centers [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). That matters to anyone buying a laptop, phone or other device right now, because the billions chipmakers are willing to lay out is why that tech is getting more expensive [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). Altman made the remarks during his appearance on the Cheeky Pint podcast [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). The interview took place over beers with the YouTube channel Cheeky Pint, where he called local inference, and people having DRAM in home computers, quite terrible [[3]](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/openai-ceo-says-its-quite-terrible-for-your-pc-to-have-ram-sam-altman-says-data-centers-offer-better-utilization). The quoted remarks occur at the 29-minute mark [[3]](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/openai-ceo-says-its-quite-terrible-for-your-pc-to-have-ram-sam-altman-says-data-centers-offer-better-utilization). ## His argument for the cloud Altman said that many people want local inference and assume the problem is solved because open-source models will let them run models on their own computers [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). His objection is about allocation. From a global allocation perspective, he said, it is quite terrible for everyone to have a share of the world's limited DRAM supply sitting in their own computer, being used five percent of the time [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). He said that maximum utilization in the cloud is needed when dealing with a very supply-constrained environment [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). He added that because the world will be limited in silicon capacity, everyone has a shared interest [[4]](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers). On memory prices, Altman said that if costs do not fall he will be very sad, and that for them to fall supply must go way up [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/chatgpt-open-ai-sam-altman-youtube-interview-vram-supply-cost-data/). ## Who holds the memory OpenAI's primary business is in closed-source models that run in data centers, though it does have some open-source models [[3]](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/openai-ceo-says-its-quite-terrible-for-your-pc-to-have-ram-sam-altman-says-data-centers-offer-better-utilization). The company is valued at $852 billion [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/chatgpt-open-ai-sam-altman-youtube-interview-vram-supply-cost-data/). Memory companies Samsung and SK Hynix have long-term deals with cloud service operators and projects such as OpenAI's Stargate that have reserved much of the world's RAM output over the next few years [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). Earlier this month, Altman argued that the world should accept some bad things happening for the benefits of this technology [[4]](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers). ## Shortage timelines and market damage Samsung expects the RAM shortage to last until at least 2028 [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). SK Hynix says memory shortages will last through 2030 [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). The AI boom has made individual components, especially memory and storage, practically unaffordable [[4]](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers). PC makers say they are already fully booked through the end of 2030 amid a massive circuit board shortage [[4]](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers). Intel shares plunged almost 30 percent on a Friday, the worst stock collapse in 52 years [[4]](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers). Analysts said the wipeout could be due to a massive slowdown in the PC market [[4]](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers). ## What this means for buyers If you are shopping for a laptop, phone or other device, the prices you see reflect the billions chipmakers are willing to lay out for chips [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). A PS5 currently costs $650 [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/chatgpt-open-ai-sam-altman-youtube-interview-vram-supply-cost-data/). Sony plans to end Blu-ray support in 2027 and produce only fully digital PS5s [[1]](https://www.polygon.com/chatgpt-open-ai-sam-altman-youtube-interview-vram-supply-cost-data/). If you plan to buy a PC, note that PC makers say they are already fully booked through the end of 2030 [[4]](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers). Watch the timelines: Samsung expects the shortage to last until at least 2028 [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers), and SK Hynix says it will last through 2030 [[2]](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers). ## Sources 1. [OpenAI Billionaire: PCs Are 'Terrible' When Data Centers Need More Memory](https://www.polygon.com/chatgpt-open-ai-sam-altman-youtube-interview-vram-supply-cost-data/) — polygon.com 2. [Sam Altman says it’s better for RAM to be in a data center than on your desk](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1023820/sam-altman-ram-shortage-cloud-servers) — The Verge 3. [OpenAI CEO says it's 'quite terrible' for your PC to have RAM — Sam Altman says data centers offer better utilization](https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/openai-ceo-says-its-quite-terrible-for-your-pc-to-have-ram-sam-altman-says-data-centers-offer-better-utilization) — tomshardware.com 4. [Sam Altman Absolutely Hates the Idea of People Running Their Own AI Models at Home, Argues They Shouldn’t Own Computers](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/sam-altman-hates-local-ai-models-computers) — futurism.com Image: Photo: 4300streetcar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SK_Hynix_DDR5_form_factors.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/