AI’s memory hunger just caught up to the MacBook Air

The global memory chip crunch has finally hit Apple’s most popular laptop.

Apple is struggling to keep the MacBook Air in stock as a global memory chip shortage worsens, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The crunch was driven by chip-hungry AI companies and previously hit niche machines like the Mac mini and Mac Studio. Now, retail inventory is tighter than ever, with Apple website delivery dates pushed into late August and September. Gurman says Apple is raising prices, sourcing memory from Chinese suppliers, and shifting its delayed back-to-school push toward the base model MacBook Pro.

Why it matters: When chip shortages hit niche desktops, it is an industry headache. When they hit Apple's default laptop right before the school year starts, everyday buyers feel it directly through multi-week delays and higher price tags.

Know this: Apple's new marketing material explicitly warns that the "MacBook Air subject to availability." If you need a Mac for the fall semester, consider ordering early or looking at the base MacBook Pro instead.

Turns out AI data centers are devouring enough RAM to make buying a standard laptop a test of patience.