AI promised low prices, but inflation rises in the US

Published on May 23, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Artificial intelligence arrived as the magic solution to cut costs and optimize processes. However, in the United States, the reality is different: inflation has hit its highest level in three years, driven by oil, tariffs, and, surprisingly, the AI frenzy. The demand for chips and electronic components keeps growing, and that is felt in the wallet.

Photorealistic technical illustration of a glowing semiconductor wafer being assembled by robotic arms in a cleanroom, while a holographic dashboard behind shows inflation graphs and oil barrel icons rising, aranceles tariff documents scattered on a metal desk, a smartphone displaying AI price optimization app with red error symbols, dramatic industrial lighting with cool blue and warm amber contrast, ultra-detailed circuit board textures, motion blur on robotic arms during assembly process, cinematic engineering visualization

More expensive chips: the hidden cost of AI development 💻

The race to dominate AI has skyrocketed the need for GPUs, HBM memory, and high-performance servers. Manufacturers like TSMC and Samsung have raised prices due to production capacity shortages. Each new data center consumes vast amounts of hardware, straining the global supply chain. Although the impact on the overall CPI is still small, sectors like corporate hardware are already feeling the upward pressure.

AI doesn't make anything cheaper, but at least we have chatbots 🤖

It turns out that artificial intelligence has not only failed to reduce costs but has made computers more expensive. Now, when your PC becomes obsolete, it's not Windows' fault, but because you need a 3,000-euro graphics card so ChatGPT can write poems for you. The worst part is that while inflation rises, companies keep selling AI as a bargain. Good thing at least oil prices are going down... or not.