Crucial is shutting down — because Micron wants to sell its RAM and SSDs to AI companies instead

Micron is retiring the Crucial brand, marking the extremity of its enactment of budget-friendly solid-state drives (SSDs) and RAM kits, as reported earlier by VideoCardz. In an announcement connected Wednesday, Micron says winding down its consumer-focused concern volition “improve proviso and enactment for our larger, strategical customers successful faster-growing segments” — a.k.a. AI companies.

The brand’s shutdown is simply a immense stroke for PC builders and hobbyists, who are already dealing with skyrocketing RAM prices linked to a surge successful request from AI companies. OpenAI, for example, struck a woody with SK Hynix and Samsung to marque up to 900,000 DRAM per period for its Stargate project.

Now, there’s going to beryllium 1 little marque selling consumer-focused representation for PCs, perchance intensifying the planetary representation shortage. Soaring request for RAM is already impacting pricing astatine CyberPowerPC, Framework, and Raspberry Pi, portion HP has adjacent hinted astatine raising the prices of its devices oregon equipping them with little memory.

Micron volition support shipping Crucial products until the extremity of February 2026 and supply “continued warranty work and support.”