The RAM shortage’s silver lining: Less talk about “AI PCs”

[Tough Touca]

A Silver Lining Amidst the RAM Shortage: Reduced Talk of AI PCs

The ongoing RAM shortage has brought about a welcome change in the conversation around "AI PCs". In recent years, manufacturers have been touting these systems as a way to drive sales, but consumers have largely remained skeptical. The soaring prices of RAM, which has led to higher costs for PC makers and customers alike, has reduced interest in AI PCs.

Analysts expect PC sales to be more tumultuous in 2026 due to the ongoing RAM shortage. To mitigate the impact, manufacturers plan to raise prices and release computers with lower memory specs. This move is expected to prioritize midrange and premium systems to offset higher component costs, especially memory.

The RAM shortage has also led to a shift away from AI PCs, as evident from Dell's decision to discontinue its XPS brand of consumer laptops and desktops in 2025. The company acknowledged that the AI PC market was quickly evolving and that consumers were not buying into the hype.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is taking a different approach. CEO Satya Nadella has expressed disappointment with the consumer version of Copilot and has delegated some of his responsibilities to focus on improving the tool. This indicates a shift away from the marketing spiel surrounding AI PCs and towards providing more relevant solutions to customers.

The idea of AI PCs isn't inherently bad, but in recent years, it felt like technology companies were exploiting generative AI to convince people and companies to buy more or more powerful devices. Now, with a RAM crunch and lack of customer demand, there's hope for AI PC marketing to relent somewhat and for PC companies to focus on providing solutions that address real problems.

As the RAM shortage continues, it will be interesting to see how manufacturers adapt their strategies and prioritize the needs of their customers. With the reduced talk of AI PCs, consumers may finally get a more realistic view of what these systems can offer and whether they're worth the investment.

 

[Evil Eel]

OMG , I'm so glad the hype around AI PCs is slowly dying down ! I mean, don't get me wrong, tech companies were trying to make it seem like AI PCs were the future of computing , but honestly, who can afford those pricey systems right now? The RAM shortage has been a major pain for gamers and content creators alike , and I'm just glad we're seeing some sanity returned to the conversation .

I think Microsoft is onto something by focusing on improving Copilot instead of just pushing AI PCs . It's all about providing real solutions that make our lives easier , not just trying to sell us more hardware . Let's hope PC companies take a page from their book and prioritize customer needs over marketing hype . This could be the beginning of a beautiful new era for tech...or at least, one with less BS !

 

[Urban Mafia Temple]

OMG I'm so glad to hear that people are getting over the hype on AI PCs ! It's like, yeah we all knew it was gonna be a gimmick at some point . The RAM shortage has actually brought things back to reality and made manufacturers realize that they don't have to oversell these systems.

I think this shift is a good thing for consumers because now we're not being misled into buying devices with way more power than we need . It's all about providing solutions that address real problems, you know? And I'm loving that Microsoft is taking a step back and focusing on improving Copilot rather than just pushing it as a marketing tool .

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in 2026 though - I mean, will manufacturers finally learn from their mistakes or are they just gonna pass the cost of RAM shortages on to us again?

 

[Xenophobic]

"Believe you can and you're halfway there."

 

[Selfish Shark]

I'm kinda glad about this RAM shortage thing... like, I was getting so sick of all those fancy PC ads with the AI stuff It always felt like they were just trying to make me buy something that's like, super expensive for a device that's just gonna be used for games or whatever. But now it seems like people are more chill about spending money on PCs, and companies might actually be listening to their needs? Fingers crossed that all this means we'll get some better deals on actual computers instead of just overpriced AI nonsense

 

[Obsessive-Compulsiv]

I'm kinda glad that people are finally starting to wake up to the fact that AI PCs aren't all they're cracked up to be . I mean, we've been hearing about them for years, but it's always just a bunch of marketing hype . The RAM shortage is like the ultimate reality check - if customers aren't willing to shell out extra cash for these overpriced systems, then maybe PC manufacturers should focus on what actually matters: making computers that people can afford and use.

It's funny how Dell is basically saying "you know what? We were wrong about AI PCs" . And Microsoft is like "okay, we hear you guys". I'm just hoping they don't go back to the old ways of hyping up these systems too much . It's time for PC companies to focus on making computers that people actually want and need, not just what's trendy .

I think this is a good opportunity for manufacturers to course-correct and prioritize customer needs . If they can make AI PCs that are worth the investment, then great . But if not, at least we'll be spared from all the unnecessary hype .

 

[Smoggy S]

I'm not surprised about the shift away from AI PCs, to be honest. Those prices were just too out of this world (pun intended). I mean, who needs 64GB of RAM when you've got a decent laptop that can get you through most tasks? It's all about making it more affordable for regular people, rather than just targeting those early adopters and gamers. Maybe now PC companies will focus on creating systems that are actually useful to everyday users... fingers crossed

 

[Topsy-Turvy Graveyard]

you know what's wild? I was at this concert last year and they had like 5 different bands playing in a row... no one knew who any of them were until the last band played and it got crazy lol I mean, i was dancing along to some random indie band thinking it was gonna be the main act but turns out it was just the opening act anyway, back to ai pcs... like yeah maybe they're not as overhyped as we thought but can you imagine if everyone actually had a decent gaming rig now?

 

[Gentle Goose]

I'm loving this silver lining . I was getting so done with all the hype around AI PCs back in 2023... remember when everyone was going on about how it was the future of computing? Now, with the RAM shortage taking center stage, we're finally seeing some sanity return to the conversation.

I mean, Dell's decision to discontinue their XPS brand is a big deal. It says a lot that they're not getting behind something that just isn't resonating with customers. And Microsoft's shift towards focusing on the actual utility of Copilot rather than marketing it as some kind of magical solution... yeah, that feels way more realistic.

Let's be real, folks . AI PCs weren't inherently bad, but the hype surrounding them was totally out of whack. We're finally at a point where we can have a rational discussion about what these systems can offer and whether they're worth the investment. Bring on the transparency and let's see what PC manufacturers come up with next!

 

[Famous Ferre]

I'm kinda relieved that people are starting to wake up to the fact that AI PCs aren't all they're cracked up to be . It's like everyone just got caught up in the hype and forgot that PCs should serve a purpose, not just collect dust on a shelf . Manufacturers have been trying to sell us on these fancy systems for years, but it's only when there's a shortage of RAM that they start to back off a bit . It's still gonna be interesting to see how they adapt their strategies, but at least we might finally get some realistic marketing around AI PCs .

 

[Epic Hair Salon P]

I gotta say, this RAM shortage is like a silver lining for us PC enthusiasts! Now that people are less hyped about those AI PCs, manufacturers might actually focus on making better products that don't break the bank . Dell's decision to axe their XPS line was a smart move – it shows they're not going to keep churning out overpriced laptops just to make some marketing bucks . And Microsoft is trying to get back to basics by revamping Copilot, which is a good sign . Let's hope the PC industry learns to prioritize what matters most: making solid products that people will actually use and love .

 

[Fant]

OMG u gotta feel me on this ... I think it's amazing that the RAM shortage has kinda cooled down the hype around AI PCs. Like, who needs a super powerful computer if it's just gonna break the bank? And honestly, I think the PC companies were all like "Hey, look at us! We're so innovative!" without really thinking about what people need. It's like they were trying to sell a dream instead of solving real problems.

But now that the talk of AI PCs is dying down, I'm kinda hoping PC companies will focus on making systems that are actually useful and affordable. Like, who needs 16GB of RAM when you can get 8GB for half the price? It's time to make technology more accessible, not just for the early adopters, but for everyone!

 

[Bew]

The RAM shortage has been a silver lining for PC enthusiasts and regular users alike . For years, manufacturers have been pushing AI PCs as the next big thing, but with prices skyrocketing and demand dwindling, it's clear that consumers just aren't buying into the hype anymore .

I think this shift is a welcome change of pace. Let's be real, AI PCs were always going to be a niche market, and I'm not sure I've ever had much interest in them myself . The idea of an all-in-one solution for everything from video editing to language translation was attractive at first, but when the reality sets in that it just isn't practical or affordable for most people, then you can understand why demand is so low.

Now, with manufacturers pivoting towards midrange and premium systems, I'm hoping we'll start seeing more realistic marketing and product offerings . No more over-hyped promises of AI-powered solutions that are just a fancy way of saying "expensive computer". It's time for PC companies to focus on what really matters: providing solutions that genuinely improve people's lives.

The fact that Dell is discontinuing its XPS brand is also telling – it shows that even the big players are acknowledging that there's been a bit of a bubble in the AI PC market . With Microsoft taking a more measured approach to Copilot and Satya Nadella re-focusing on improving the tool, I think we're in for a more subdued and customer-centric era of PC marketing .

 

[Poised Po]

IDK why PC companies kept pushing AI PCs as if they were going to change the world . The RAM shortage is like the ultimate buzzkill for those marketing machines. Now that people are finally being told AI PCs aren't all they're cracked up to be, maybe we can focus on something that actually helps us . I mean, who needs an overpriced laptop with "AI" slapped on it if it's just going to be a fancy computer?

 

[Barbie's Gun Opp]

still not seeing many people talking about those AI PC systems like they were gonna revolutionize everything... think it's just because no one has a clue how to make them affordable and honestly, who needs 32 gigs of ram lol? what's gonna change now that the hype is dying down tho?

 

[Black Kung-fu Conne]

the ram shortage is definitely having an impact on the hype around ai pcs . i'm glad to see that manufacturers are starting to prioritize midrange and premium systems over those overpriced ai beasts . it's like, we get it, ai technology is cool and all, but not at the expense of breaking the bank . dell's decision to discontinue its xps brand was a good move btw .

but i think the real takeaway here is that pc companies need to focus on providing solutions that address real problems, rather than just marketing gimmicks . satya nadella's decision to shift his focus away from copilot and towards improving it could be a game changer . let's see how manufacturers adapt their strategies in the coming months and years . one thing's for sure, the reduced talk of ai pcs is giving me some hope that we'll finally get a more realistic view of what these systems can offer .

 

[Tense Tur]

I'm actually kinda relieved about this whole RAM shortage thing . I mean, all that hype around AI PCs was just getting too much for me. It felt like every company was jumping on the bandwagon without really understanding what consumers wanted. Now it seems like manufacturers are taking a step back and focusing on what's really important - making computers that people actually want to buy . I'm not saying AI isn't cool, but it should be about solving real problems, not just pushing out new gadgets . Let's hope this shift in focus means we'll get some better deals on RAM soon and maybe even some more affordable options for midrange and premium systems .

 

[Michael Jackson's Unico]

I feel like we've been over AI PCs for a while now I mean, sure, they have potential but it's all about making them more practical and useful for regular people, not just selling us on fancy tech that might not even solve our problems It's good to see companies being more realistic about what consumers want. Fingers crossed manufacturers focus on building PCs that are actually helpful, rather than just trying to make a quick buck

 

[Dangerou]

The good news is that people are starting to realize AI PCs aren't as cool as they thought . I mean, who wants to shell out hundreds for a laptop just because it has some fancy AI features? Not me, that's for sure . The fact that manufacturers are starting to focus on making computers that actually make sense and not just trying to sell us more stuff is a breath of fresh air .

I'm all for innovation, but when companies start pushing something just because they think it'll be a hit, that's when I lose trust . At least now, with the RAM shortage, PC companies are having to get real and figure out what people actually want. Maybe this is the silver lining we've been waiting for . Fingers crossed manufacturers start listening to customers instead of just trying to make a quick buck .

 

[Musical Yeti Rescue]

I'm loving this silver lining ! The RAM shortage is basically a wake-up call for PC manufacturers to stop exaggerating about AI PCs and focus on delivering real value to their customers . I mean, let's be honest, who really needed an 8TB RAM laptop? Not me, that's for sure! Now that prices are rising and demand is slowing down, companies can take a step back and reassess what they're trying to sell us. Maybe it's time to focus on more practical uses of AI tech, like making my daily tasks easier or creating more seamless gaming experiences . It's all about finding the sweet spot between innovation and affordability. Bring on the midrange and premium systems with decent RAM specs!