AI Buildouts Raise SSD Prices

Large AI training and inference deployments are soaking up not just DRAM and GPUs but also high‑end NAND (NVMe) inventory, producing visible price inflation on consumer SSDs across capacities. Retail examples include a WD Black SN850X 2TB rising from $173 (2024) to $649 and a Samsung 4TB 990 Pro approaching $1,000, with PC Part Picker trends showing sustained increases since December 2025. — If AI demand is crowding out consumer memory and storage, that raises questions about device affordability, digital divides, supply‑chain resilience, and whether industrial policy or market interventions are needed.