Humanoid Robots to Drive Memory Demand, Micron Predicts Sustained High Prices
Micron Technology indicates that humanoid robots will require hundreds of gigabytes of memory, potentially maintaining high prices in the memory market even after any AI bubble bursts.
Micron Technology has identified humanoid robots as a significant future driver of memory demand, stating that each unit could require over 200GB of DRAM and several terabytes of NAND flash storage. This projection was made during the company's fiscal year-end earnings call.
The semiconductor manufacturer also forecasts that supply-demand conditions for memory and storage will tighten further between fiscal years 2027 and 2028, without a clear timeline for when market balance might be restored. This outlook suggests that high memory prices could become a persistent trend.
Micron reported a substantial increase in revenue for its fiscal year 2026, up 379% year-over-year. The company anticipates continued revenue growth into fiscal year 2027, although it projects gross margins to be at their lowest point in the first quarter of that year before gradually improving.
The company's chief financial officer highlighted that "Physical AI" is expected to be a key driver of memory demand by the end of the current decade. This anticipated surge in demand, coupled with potential supply constraints, points towards a continued elevated price environment for memory components.