Apple Bets on Chinese Chips as AI Demand Strains Supply

Apple is testing memory chips from China’s ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The move comes as a global surge in artificial intelligence (AI) development has tightened the supply of advanced computer memory. CXMT is a leading Chinese maker of DRAM chips, which are a type of short-term memory used in phones, computers, and servers. Apple has reportedly evaluated the company’s chips for potential use in future devices. The testing is not a final deal. It signals that Apple, like many tech firms, is looking for alternative suppliers to avoid shortages and rising costs. The AI boom has pushed demand for memory chips to record levels, leaving major producers like Samsung and SK Hynix struggling to keep up. For now, Apple has not confirmed any purchase. But the trial marks a rare step: US companies have largely avoided Chinese memory chips due to export controls and security concerns. If Apple proceeds, it could reshape the global chip supply chain.