By TOI Tech Desk
Publication Date: 2025-12-26 06:20:00
Microsoft and Google are reportedly threatening their procurement executives with termination if they fail to secure critical memory chip supplies from Samsung and SK Hynix, according to industry analyst reports. The intense pressure reflects the severity of the global memory shortage that has sent RAM prices soaring and left AI companies scrambling for components.Citrini Research analyst Jukan (@jukan05 on Twitter) highlighted reports that purchasing executives from major tech companies are now “practically stationed” in South Korea, desperately negotiating with the country’s semiconductor giants. The stakes are extraordinarily high: Google has already reportedly fired executives responsible for procurement after they failed to secure additional memory supplies, according to Korean industry sources.
Memory crunch forces dramatic personnel measures
The reported firings at Google came after the company’s AI accelerator chip demand exceeded expectations, creating a supply shortage….
