After ‘hitting’ RAM supply, AI demand may have triggered another key component shortage for PC makers

First it was memory chips (RAM) and processors, now, the boom in artificial intelligence (AI) computing is squeezing another foundational piece of hardware: printed circuit boards (PCBs) and chip substrates. As PC makers like HP and Dell map out their hardware supply needs for 2027, this once-overlooked part of the electronics chain has suddenly turned into a major roadblock. According to a report by Nikkei Asia, industry managers say factory lines worldwide are pivoting toward high-margin AI infrastructure, leaving traditional consumer electronics, including laptops and smartphones, scrambling for capacity.

“Various types of PCBs have become a critical bottleneck in our product planning for next year.