Urgh! So glad I have recent phone, laptop and watch. AI boom creating shortage of key elements for consumer technology | RNZ News:

Since the AI boom, manufacturers had pivoted away from making hardware like RAM and hard drives for general consumers - instead focusing on creating the more lucrative equipment for AI and data centers.

It was creating a shortage of key elements for phones, computers, even cars and dishwashers, prompting supply chain problems - driving up prices.