In 2026, AI seems poised to find its way into every conversation, even if you’ve decided to stop using ChatGPT and ignore every news story on the subject. As gadget reviewers, the Popular Mechanics tech team is bracing for an AI-induced storm in 2026, in the form of rising prices that make our favorite gadgets harder to get and more expensive to upgrade. To expand and compete, AI companies are buying all the RAM and GPU they can. Your knee-jerk reaction to this information may be to run out and start hoarding new tech before prices start to rise. If you’re a tech lover, or someone who’s been holding out on buying some new gear and may need it soon, this may be a tough year.