The year 2026 presents a complex scenario for the technology industry. RAM memory production has shifted massively toward artificial intelligence servers, generating shortages and high prices for consumer use. This situation is aggravated by the conflict in Iran, which endangers the global supply of helium, a critical and irreplaceable gas in semiconductor manufacturing. The confluence of both factors threatens to slow down chip production worldwide.
Helium, the invisible element in semiconductor lithography ⚗️
In chip manufacturing, helium serves two essential functions. First, it is used as a purge gas in the chambers of EUV lithography machines, creating an inert environment that prevents impurities during the process. Second, its high thermal conductivity is key to cooling the high-power lasers in these machines. Without a stable and pure flow of helium, memory production lines in factories of Samsung or SK Hynix would simply stop, unable to guarantee circuit integrity.
Get ready to swap your PC for a rock and a stick 🪵
The situation has a point of dark humor. While big tech companies compete for helium for their AI superchips, the average user faces a different reality. Building a gaming PC might soon require a bank loan, and upgrading RAM could be as expensive as buying the entire computer. Maybe it's time to dust off those DDR3 machines and start seeing them not as junk, but as relics from an era of abundance that, apparently, has ended.