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Original
OpinionThe Verge · AI· Stevie Bonifield·· 4 hours ago

Sam Altman Says RAM Is Better Used in Data Centers Than on Desks

Sam Altman says it’s better for RAM to be in a data center than on your desk

Image: The Verge · AI
Who
Sam Altman
What
argued that limited DRAM supplies are better utilized in data centers than in personal computers
Quote
During his appearance on the Cheeky Pint podcast, where he also commented on AI’s impact on math , Altman said: “A lot of people want local inference.

What happened

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on the Cheeky Pint podcast that, amid a constrained DRAM supply, it is “quite terrible” for people to keep RAM in personal computers where it is used five percent of the time. He argued that cloud data centers can maximize utilization. The article says Samsung and SK Hynix have long-term deals with cloud operators and projects like OpenAI’s Stargate that have reserved much of the world’s RAM output over the next few years.

Read next

See the full storySam Altman Argues Scarce RAM Is Better Used in Data Centers Than Personal Computers

The story so far

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argued on the Cheeky Pint podcast that constrained DRAM supplies are better used in cloud data centers than in personal computers, saying centralized computing can achieve higher utilization. He called it “quite terrible” for people to keep RAM in personal computers where, he said, it is used five percent of the time. His comments concerned demand for running AI locally. The Verge reported that Samsung and SK Hynix have long-term deals with cloud operators and projects such as OpenAI’s Stargate that have reserved much of the world’s RAM output over the next few years.

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