Hey,
It’s Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
A lot of people think AI is just changing software. But instead, it’s breaking how hardware gets made, priced, and sold.
Why Tech Doesn’t Get Cheaper Anymore
AI companies are buying everything. Not consumer products, but the components behind them.
Here’s how that plays out:
GPUs went first → completely wiped out by AI demand
Then memory (RAM) → prices spiked, availability dropped
Then storage (SSDs, HDDs) → same pattern
Now even SD cards are getting hit
At one point, even Sony started pulling back from consumer SD card production because selling to AI/data centers is just… more profitable.
This creates a weird new reality when buying tech:
1️⃣ Prices don’t behave normally anymore
Things don’t just “get cheaper over time”.
They spike suddenly, disappear, or come back at a higher baseline.
2️⃣ Availability becomes unpredictable
You’ll see “out of stock” for weeks, random restocks, and certain models just gone.
3️⃣ Fake / low-quality products are everywhere
Example: you can buy a “2TB SD card” on Amazon…
👉 It shows up as 2TB
👉 Works fine at first
👉 Then starts overwriting your data at ~64GB
Because it’s not actually 2TB.
How I Actually Buy Tech Right Now
✅ Consider second-hand
This is becoming one of the best options, but:
Avoid random sellers on Facebook Marketplace
Prioritize platforms with buyer protection (e.g. eBay)
Look for verified refurb sellers / local companies
💡 Quick check:
Search → [company name] + scam
You’ll immediately see if anything’s off
✅ Only buy from trusted sources (even on Amazon)
Amazon ≠ safe by default anymore.
Check reviews carefully
Avoid “too good to be true” specs
Stick to known brands / verified sellers
✅ Don’t optimize for specs, optimize for reliability
In this market:
A slightly worse product from a trusted source is better than a “perfect spec” product from a sketchy one
✅ Assume this will spread to more categories
Right now it’s GPUs, storage, memory.
But it will likely expand into:
chips
accessories
even consumer devices over time
My 10-Second Buying Guide
Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
You need storage / memory soon | Buy now, don’t wait |
You find a “too good” deal | Avoid, high chance it’s fake |
You want best value | Look at reputable second-hand |
You’re unsure about a seller | Search “[name] + scam” |
You’re comparing options | Prioritize reliability over specs |
How has this affected you already?
📱 Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend who’s as obsessed with tech as you are:
I took lifelong iPhone users and forced them to switch.
We used everything from the Galaxy S26 Ultra to the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro and OnePlus 15 and tracked what actually broke, what improved, and what surprised them.
Here’s what I break down in the video:
The rules of the switch & the devices we tested
What breaks first when you leave iOS
Setup vs daily usability
Camera, battery, and real-world performance
Why YouTubers always “switch” (and why that’s misleading)
The verdict after living with Android
Who should actually consider switching