Gadget prices climb as AI firms hoard memory chips

Surging demand for AI server memory is prompting chipmakers to redirect production capacity away from the consumer segment toward data centers. As a result, companies producing tablets, game consoles and smartphones face rising component costs and are passing them on to retail prices. Analysts warn the trend could intensify in coming quarters as big tech firms expand AI infrastructure spending. For consumers, that means higher prices on new devices already this year. Investors should watch memory makers as prime beneficiaries of the AI boom while weighing risks for companies dependent on stable component supplies.