Micron: Autonomous Cars and Robots, DRAM Black Holes

Micron Anticipates Explosive Demand for Memory in Robotics and Autonomous Vehicles

Micron, a major player in the semiconductor industry, recently announced forecasts that could transform the technological landscape. According to the company, autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots could each require up to 300 GB of DRAM. This announcement comes as the market is already under pressure due to a memory shortage that has persisted since the end of 2025.

The current shortage is primarily attributed to the growing demand from data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence. However, Micron's financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 reveal an even more complex future. The American manufacturer expects that autonomous driving and humanoid robotics will become major consumers of memory in the medium term.

Impressive Financial Results

The figures recently published by Micron for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 are impressive. The company recorded revenues of $23.86 billion, nearly three times the $8.05 billion from the previous year. Compared to the previous quarter, this represents an increase of $10.3 billion. Net income also saw a spectacular rise, reaching $13.8 billion, up from $1.58 billion during the same period in 2025. These results are attributed to the surge in AI-related demand, supply constraints, and Micron's operational efficiency. The company has also signed multi-year strategic contracts with its clients, including a five-year agreement, and plans to increase its production capacity by 20% by the end of the year.

Ambitious Projections for DRAM

During the presentation of its results, Micron highlighted ambitious projections regarding DRAM demand. The company's CEO estimated that level 4 autonomous vehicles would require more than 300 GB of DRAM. This level, known as "L4," refers to vehicles capable of operating without a driver in defined geographic areas, similar to Waymo's robotaxis in San Francisco. Currently, a standard vehicle uses about 16 GB of DRAM, meaning demand could increase nearly 19-fold. For humanoid robots, Micron anticipates similar demand, viewing robotics as a growth vector over the next twenty years.

However, these figures should be examined with caution. The technical specifications for level 4 refer to 300 GB/s of bandwidth, not memory capacity. Bandwidth refers to the data transfer rate, while capacity concerns the volume of onboard memory. In 2023, a Micron study projected 278 GB of combined DRAM and NAND for an average vehicle by 2026. Earlier estimates placed DRAM alone at 74 GB for a level 5 vehicle in 2025. The jump to 300 GB of pure DRAM for level 4 represents a significant increase from these forecasts. Regarding robots, no external sources confirm this level of demand. Current platforms, such as NVIDIA's Jetson AGX Thor or Tesla's Optimus, operate with a few dozen GB.

A Message for Investors

It is important to note that the statements from Micron's CEO are primarily directed at investors. Despite record financial results, the company's stock fell after market close. Investors are concerned that demand for AI servers may wane once major deployments are completed. Robotics and autonomous vehicles are presented as the next major sources of demand. The message is clear: even if demand for servers slows, other sectors will continue to require significant amounts of memory.

However, it is crucial to keep in mind that Micron is both a supplier and a forecaster of demand. According to analysts, the current memory shortage could persist until the end of 2027. If autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots enter mass production during this period, the general public may never see the end of this shortage. If these markets take time to develop, Micron may need to revise its narrative.

When the company that sells memory is also the one predicting demand, it is wise to consider its forecasts with a degree of skepticism.