Tech News – Forget 16, 32, or 64 GB: Micron CEO Suggests Much Higher Memory Requirements Are on the Horizon…
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Demand for computer memory is already soaring, but Micron has identified two emerging device categories poised to consume vast amounts of RAM. Both self-driving cars and humanoid robots will require hundreds of gigabytes of memory, according to the semiconductor manufacturer. During Micron’s recent earnings report, which included input from Wall Street analysts, CEO Sanjay Mehrotra explained how autonomous vehicles and other types of robots will generate substantial memory demands.
Mehrotra stated that today’s average vehicles have Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) capabilities at Level 2 or below, and are equipped with approximately 16 GB of DRAM. Referencing the industry standard classification for autonomous vehicles – ranging from Level 0, with no automation, to Level 5, a fully self-driving car requiring no human intervention – he noted that Level 4 autonomous vehicles require more than 300 GB of memory. As more advanced ADAS and intelligent cabin features become widespread, Micron anticipates strong, long-term growth in demand for automotive memory. Similarly, the company predicts humanoid robots will represent another source of RAM demand, mirroring the needs of self-driving cars. The rapid advancement of AI is providing significant momentum to robotics capabilities, and Micron believes the industry is on the cusp of a 20-year growth wave, expecting robotics to become one of the largest product categories in the technology world.
Humanoid robots, equipped with AI, will operate on computing platforms comparable to high-end vehicles with Level 4 driving automation, therefore requiring significant memory and storage capacity. Micron is currently working to produce the industry’s first automotive-qualified 1γ LPDDR5 DRAM to serve this specialized market. However, increasing capacity to meet this demand will take time. The company forecasts that both DRAM and NAND supply will constrain industry bit growth in 2026, despite a projected 20% increase in overall RAM supply.
this represents a familiar story with a new twist. It’s AI driving demand, but not in the typical data center applications – instead, it’s AI-powered devices. If Micron is correct, and robotics truly is on the verge of a 20-year growth trajectory, it’s difficult to imagine the market for components like memory modules normalizing in the short term…
