Power ranges: AI faces supply crunch

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is triggering a severe supply crunch, as demand for processing power outpaces the availability of GPUs and data center infrastructure. Tech firms are investing hundreds of billions to scale capacity, yet construction delays and hardware shortages—particularly for critical components like transformers and switches—persist. Meanwhile, criminal networks are evolving, shifting from labor-intensive scams to rapid, automated malware-as-a-service operations that exploit biometric data and mobile access to drain bank accounts in seconds. This shift reflects a broader trend of sophisticated, transnational cybercrime. Concurrently, consumer brands like Allbirds are struggling to adapt to a post-pandemic landscape marked by higher interest rates and rising digital advertising costs, leading some to abandon traditional retail models in favor of radical pivots to infrastructure or other sectors to survive.