Williams Says AI Equipment Shortages May Last More Than Two Years

New York Fed President John Williams said shortages of equipment used in artificial intelligence could last more than two years, potentially adding to inflation as the buildout raises costs for chips and products that use them.

Williams said he still believes the Federal Reserve may need to raise interest rates once more this year to bring inflation down. He said he currently sees no reason for another rate increase in 2027, while leaving the outlook open.

He also expects AI investment to remain strong even if interest rates rise. Investors in the sector are relatively insensitive to prices and expect AI to drive significant productivity gains and economic change, Williams said.

The supply squeeze could affect Bitcoin (BTC) miners expanding into AI, as they compete for chips and power equipment. IREN signed a $2.8 billion AI cloud contract in July, while miners pursuing AI projects face large financing needs and lenders have become more selective.