Memory bandwidth emerges as critical AI bottleneck

HBM bandwidth grows at half the rate of AI chip TFLOPS, compounding a 50% gap every two years. Micron invests $10B in long-term memory research lab. Gartner revises semis forecast to $1.6T in 2026, with memory driving 54% of growth. Memory pricing tight through 2027. Xiaomi XRING O3 uses CXMT LPDDR6, highlighting memory supply chain dynamics. Apple's Mac price hikes reflect memory cost pass-through.