“High-Bandwidth Memory: The Critical Gaps in US Export Controls” by Erich Grunewald, Raghav Akula

This month, mainstream media have been warning consumers that electronic devices may get pricier because of rising demand for dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a key component. The surge in DRAM costs, estimated to have risen by 50% during the final quarter of 2025, can largely be traced back to a specific cause: the AI industry's appetite for high-bandwidth memory (HBM). This demand has led memory-makers to shift production away from standard DRAM chips and toward HBM. While its contribution is often overshadowed by those of processors it supports, HBM plays a vital role in training and running advanced AI systems, so much so that it now accounts for half the production cost of an AI chip. Companies’ determination to secure this lesser-known component proves its value. In December 2024, the US announced new export restrictions on the sale of HBM chips to China. In the month before the restrictions came into effect, Huawei and other Chinese companies reportedly stockpiled 7 million Samsung HBM chips, a haul likely worth over $1 billion. The December 2024 controls specifically targeted HBM in order to slow China's domestic AI chip-production efforts. Targeting HBM in this way is possible because it is manufactured [...] ---Outline:(02:00) Why is high-bandwidth memory so important?(06:03) Mapping the global HBM industry(09:33) The gaps in current HBM controls(15:34) Tightening the regime(19:30) Conclusion(22:28) Discussion about this post(22:31) Ready for more? --- First published: February 2nd, 2026 Source: https://aifrontiersmedia.substack.com/p/high-bandwidth-memory-the-critical --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.