📊Executive Summary

The article highlights a severe global shortage of memory chips, particularly high-bandwidth memory (HBM), driven by surging demand for AI hardware. Major tech companies like Google and Microsoft are facing intense pressure to secure supply agreements in South Korea, with Google reportedly firing executives for failing to secure contracts. The article emphasizes that only a few suppliers, including SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, and Micron, dominate the market, leading to constrained availability and heightened competition among tech giants. As a result, companies are placing purchasing managers directly in Asia to mitigate supply chain risks and negotiate better terms....