Computer memory, known as RAM, is getting so expensive that everyday people are being priced out. Gizmodo reports that a 32GB kit of DDR5 memory, a common upgrade for gaming and work computers, may not drop below $450 anytime soon. A big reason is that AI companies are buying enormous amounts of memory to fill their data centers.

Now one of the biggest buyers says that is how it should be. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said on the Cheeky Pint podcast that it is “quite terrible” for so much of the world’s memory to sit inside personal computers, according to Gizmodo. He argued that memory is better used in the cloud, where companies like his can rent computing power back to the public.

That vision leaves students, families, gamers and small businesses paying more for laptops, phones and PCs. Gizmodo reports that OpenAI plans to spend about $750 billion on infrastructure through 2030, and that this kind of demand is pushing up the price of computer parts, even for smartphones.

Nobody should be forced to rent a computer from a handful of tech giants because owning one has become too expensive.

Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron make most of the world’s memory chips. They should set aside a fair, guaranteed share of their production for consumer devices. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should also investigate how AI data center demand is driving up electronics prices for households, and whether a few companies are cornering the supply.

Sign the petition to keep affordable computer memory in the hands of everyday people, before owning a capable computer becomes a luxury.