AI Ambitions Might Be Hurting Your Next Laptop Purchase

The tech world is in a bit of a pickle. Microsoft's big push for AI-powered PCs, called Copilot+ PCs, might be making laptops more expensive and harder to find. These AI PCs need special parts, like a lot of RAM and a specific chip called an NPU. But there's a problem: RAM is in short supply, and prices are skyrocketing. This shortage is mostly because AI data centers are using up a lot of high-end memory. Companies like Micron are focusing more on AI than on making memory for regular computers. This RAM crunch is affecting all kinds of laptops, not just the fancy AI ones. Gaming laptops, which usually need a lot of RAM, are getting more expensive. Even entry-level and mid-range laptops might have to cut back on RAM to keep costs down. This could mean fewer features and a worse experience for users.Microsoft has been trying to make every Windows 11 device an "AI PC, " but not all of these AI features are working well. Some, like Copilot Vision, give bad advice and fail at simple tasks. Others, like Gaming Copilot, are so unreliable that they're not very helpful. Despite these issues, Microsoft is still pushing hard on AI, even if it means making laptops more expensive and less accessible. The PC industry is heading to the CES conference next month to show off new products. But with RAM prices so high, it's unclear how much these new laptops will cost. If laptops start shipping with less RAM, it could hurt Microsoft's Copilot+ branding. Either way, consumers might have to pay more for fewer features. Microsoft's focus on AI is so strong that it might even be affecting its leadership. Reports suggest that longtime Windows lead Rajesh Jha is considering retirement. This shows how serious Microsoft is about becoming an AI-first company, even if it means leaving behind some of its core products.