This week’s hardware news recap kicks off with a quirky story about Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang selling one of his iconic Tom Ford leather jackets for nearly $1 million at auction. The jacket, worn during many of Nvidia’s landmark AI product launches, symbolizes Huang’s leadership and the AI revolution. The proceeds will benefit the Edge Institute, a nonprofit focused on advancing technology and culture. Nvidia is also celebrating its history with a playful “paper launch” of GeForce trading cards, humorously poking fun at the company’s marketing efforts and the challenges of GPU availability.
On the geopolitical and supply chain front, the US government is intensifying export controls on Nvidia’s AI GPUs to China, tightening compliance and oversight to prevent smuggling through third countries. Nvidia must now inspect customers more rigorously, with involvement from the US Department of Commerce. Meanwhile, the US is also seeking a share of profits from South Korean memory manufacturers like Samsung and SK Hynix, arguing that American companies’ purchases contribute to their earnings. South Korea’s semiconductor exports have surged dramatically amid the AI boom, with memory makers setting earnings records despite looming supply shortages.
China’s chip exports nearly doubled in the first half of 2026, driven by integrated circuits and supported by government investment in domestic semiconductor production. However, China primarily exports lower-cost ICs rather than advanced AI GPUs restricted by US export controls. Despite plans by Samsung and SK Hynix to expand capacity, memory shortages are expected to persist well beyond 2030 due to soaring AI-driven demand and the complexity of manufacturing high-performance memory like HBM. This shortage is impacting various markets, including smartphones, where memory costs have skyrocketed and could force price hikes or reduced specs.
The rising memory prices are reshaping the tech landscape, pushing PC and smartphone manufacturers to focus on high-end or budget segments while mid-tier markets shrink. This trend also affects gaming hardware; for instance, Valve raised prices on its Steam Deck due to memory and storage cost increases. On a positive note, Steam reported record revenue in the first half of 2026, nearing its pandemic peak, with most sales coming from older titles rather than new releases. This reflects a broader industry pattern where gamers continue to support established games alongside a thriving indie scene.
Finally, the video highlights some cool community-driven projects, including a mod that enables Steam Controllers to emulate Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch inputs with minimal latency. Another fun mod involves creating physical game cartridges for Steam games using affordable 2.5-inch SSDs, complete with 3D-printed cases and scripts to launch games automatically. These creative endeavors offer nostalgic and practical ways to interact with digital games, contrasting with the industry’s gradual move away from physical media. Overall, the week’s news blends serious market dynamics with lighthearted tech culture moments.
