Two companies that millions of people use have recently raised their prices.

Apple has increased the prices of some MacBooks and iPads. Microsoft has also announced higher prices for Xbox consoles. And interestingly, both companies gave the same reason: memory chips.

At first, it doesn't seem like a big deal. Companies raise prices all the time. People complain online for a few days, and then everyone moves on.

That's what I thought too.

But the more I looked into it, the more I realized this isn't just another price hike. It's one of the first times we're seeing the AI boom affect products that regular people actually buy.