AI is competing with humans to buy DDR5 memory amid the RAMpocalypse caused by its owns appetite for memory (www.techradar.com)

A surge in demand for DDR5 memory, driven by the needs of AI workloads, has led to a RAM supply crisis known as the "RAMpocalypse.” Automated buying bots are exacerbating the issue by targeting DDR5 products disproportionately, outpacing real shoppers by nearly six to one. A recent investigation uncovered over 10 million scraping requests blocked in a single campaign, revealing the extent to which these bots are monitoring and snatching up available stock across various suppliers, from consumer brands like Corsair and Crucial to industrial manufacturers like Micron. This trend highlights a significant challenge for the AI/ML community: as more enterprises invest in AI infrastructure—training large models and running inference servers—the competition for memory resources intensifies. The automation employed by scalpers is sophisticated, making it nearly impossible for regular consumers to secure RAM for their needs. The implications extend beyond just consumer inconvenience; as AI systems consume increasing amounts of memory, it raises concerns about accessibility and fairness in acquiring essential technology components necessary for innovation and development in the field.