The expansion of generative artificial intelligence is significantly increasing demand for semiconductors and pressuring the global chip supply chain. According to information from Reuters published in June, memory chip prices recorded increases of up to 98% in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong demand related to the construction of AI data centers.
Chip manufacturers have prioritized contracts with companies linked to artificial intelligence infrastructure, which reduces the available supply for other segments of the technology industry. This concentration of resources reflects the pressure on the semiconductor supply chain caused by the rapid expansion of computational capacity needed to develop and run AI applications.
Artificial intelligence systems depend on equipment capable of processing large volumes of data at high speed, resources concentrated mainly in data centers. As a result, beyond chip availability, the need for physical and electrical infrastructure compatible with this processing capacity is growing.
According to the International Energy Agency, this scenario represents one of the main challenges for the technology sector, which needs to expand its infrastructure to meet the growing demand imposed by the expansion of generative AI.
