December 5, 2025
RAMageddon, brought to you by OpenAI
Sam Altman's Dirty DRAM Deal
OpenAI gobbles the world’s memory; gamers howl, lawyers lurk
TLDR: OpenAI reportedly locked up as much as 40% of global computer memory, sending RAM prices skyward and delivery dates into 2026. Commenters are split between calling it a genius play to kneecap Google and warning of antitrust trouble, while memes fly—this could hit wallets and holiday builds fast
The internet is clutching its RAM sticks after Moore’s Law Is Dead reported that Sam Altman’s OpenAI quietly signed simultaneous deals with Samsung and SK Hynix to lock up as much as 40% of global DRAM—those are the memory chips your computers need. Prices exploded overnight (a 32GB kit jumped 156%), retailers say manufacturers are begging them for stock, and one PC maker was told new RAM wouldn’t arrive until December 2026. Cue the comment section meltdown. Some call it a galaxy-brain power play, with one user crowing it will “halt Google’s hardware acceleration” and leave rivals coding on ancient machines. Others are asking the big question: is this even legal? “Does this violate antitrust?” rings through the thread while gamers fear a repeat of 2021’s empty shelves and canceled builds. The memes are merciless: references to “cornering Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice” (Trading Places vibes), jokes about Valve’s next “Steam Frame” dying in the cradle, and sarcasm that this will make AI “even more palatable” for regular folks—aka, totally unaffordable. Whether you see it as ruthless genius or holiday-wrecking hoarding, the community agrees on one thing: RAMageddon is here, and your wallet is the collateral. Watch the video for the receipts.
Key Points
- •The article reports a 156% price increase for a 32GB DDR5 kit within three weeks, reaching $330.
- •Industry anecdotes include a RAM manufacturer seeking to buy inventory from a retailer and lead times quoted to December 2026 for prebuilt PC companies.
- •According to the article’s sources, OpenAI signed simultaneous October 1 deals with Samsung and SK Hynix for up to 40% of global DRAM output.
- •The author attributes market panic to the secrecy and magnitude of these deals, prompting widespread buying.
- •Low safety stock—linked to tariffs, expectations of falling prices in summer, and stalled equipment transfers—exacerbated the shortage.