OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated on the Cheeky Pint podcast that home computers underutilize DRAM, which he claims is used only 5% of the time. He suggested that this memory would be better allocated to AI data centers, which operate continuously. This proposal comes amid a global memory supply shortage that chipmaker SK Hynix expects to persist until 2030.
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson and Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz publicly criticized the idea. Hoskinson shared a meme indicating he intentionally uses 64GB of RAM for a 1999 video game, while Schwartz rejected the suggestion using a slogan regarding personal property rights. The disagreement highlights concerns over hardware costs for node operators.
The XRP Ledger recommends 64GB of RAM for its server software, while Cardano suggests up to 24GB for a mainnet stake pool. Increased demand from AI data centers could raise hardware prices, potentially impacting the operational costs of decentralized networks. Future relief may arrive in 2028, when Tesla CEO Elon Musk expects China to increase RAM production.
