Musk predicts robot RAM demand will surpass all sectors

Elon Musk has predicted that the demand for random access memory (RAM) from robots will eventually exceed that of all other sectors on Earth. He made this claim on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to Zephyr, a prominent account focused on analyzing artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and technological infrastructure.

Zephyr downplays humanoids' role in RAM demand

Zephyr had previously suggested that humanoids—human-like robots—would not play a major role in global RAM demand. This discussion arose in response to projections from Counterpoint, a research firm, which predicts that the demand for DRAM (a type of RAM) for robotics could increase twentyfold between 2026 and 2030.

Counterpoint projects massive growth in robot memory needs

According to Counterpoint, the demand for DRAM from humanoid robots is expected to rise from 8,300 terabits (about 1.04 million gigabytes) in 2026 to 172,000 terabits (21.5 million gigabytes) by 2030. This would represent a 21-fold increase in demand, with the average memory per robot rising from 19 to 39 gigabytes.

Robot memory needs remain small compared to global production

Despite these projections, the demand for robot memory would still be relatively small compared to global production. Even if 550,000 robots are produced annually in 2030, each with 39 gigabytes of memory, the total demand would be about 21.5 million gigabytes, or only 0.04% of the 48 billion gigabytes of RAM produced globally in 2026.

Musk argues robots will dominate Earth's RAM use

Musk dismisses the idea that robot memory needs will remain small, arguing that robots will eventually consume more RAM than any other sector. He claims that robots must operate on physical substrates to manipulate matter, and thus will need to stay on Earth to build or perform tasks. He also suggests that future superintelligence systems will require even more memory, but these will be located in space.

Musk's vision includes a humanoid robot from Tesla

Musk's prediction aligns with his own projects, such as the Optimus humanoid robot being developed by Tesla. This robot is intended to perform tasks such as housework or dangerous jobs. However, the project is still in early stages, facing issues such as defective components and unpredictable AI behavior.

Micron considers high-memory needs for future humanoids

Micron, one of the world’s largest RAM suppliers, is also considering the possibility that future humanoids may require over 200 gigabytes of memory. This is much higher than the 39 gigabytes projected by Counterpoint, though it may refer to different types of robots or future models. The actual production and adoption of such robots remain uncertain.