Michael Dell: AI demand is in excess of supply

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  January 22, 2026 at 16:03  |  3:28  |  CNBC
Speakers
Michael Dell — Chairman & CEO, Dell Technologies

Summary

Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell, says the AI revolution is still in its early innings and that AI demand is running well ahead of supply. He argues Dell has clear AI-driven ROI, with double-digit EPS growth expected to continue for five years, and that the company is selling picks and shovels to model builders and inference providers. He also explains that memory pricing and semiconductor capacity are tight because new fabs take about four years to build and no one anticipated ChatGPT, reasoning models, or agents in time.

  • Michael Dell says AI is still early and demand exceeds supply.
  • Dell expects double-digit EPS growth to continue over the next five years.
  • Dell benefits as a picks-and-shovels supplier to AI model builders and inference firms.
  • AI productivity and efficiency gains are visible in a small number of companies.
  • Memory pricing is surging because AI demand outpaces supply.
  • Semiconductor capacity cannot catch up quickly due to four-year fab build times.
  • No explicit trade recommendations were made; comments were broadly bullish on AI and Dell.
Ideas
Michael Dell Chairman & CEO, Dell Technologies 0:23
AI early; demand exceeds supply.
AI is still in the early innings: computing is shifting from calculation to thinking, productivity and efficiency opportunities are large, models will keep improving, and demand is in excess of supply by quite a lot. This creates a broad, multi-year demand signal for AI-related investment.
Michael Dell Chairman & CEO, Dell Technologies 1:51
Dell AI picks-and-shovels growth continues.
Dell has a clear ROI from AI, with EPS consistently growing double digits and expected to continue over the next five years; AI makes Dell more competitive and Dell sells the picks and shovels to companies building large models and running inference. The company is still early in this opportunity.
Michael Dell Chairman & CEO, Dell Technologies 2:50
Semiconductor supply lags AI demand.
AI semiconductor supply remains tight because memory pricing is surging and new semiconductor plant capacity takes about four years to build. Four years ago, nobody anticipated ChatGPT, reasoning models, or agents, so the industry could not have added enough capacity in time. This supply lag keeps semiconductor and memory markets tight.
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This CNBC video, published January 22, 2026, features Michael Dell discussing AI-SECTOR, DELL, SMH. 3 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Michael Dell  · Tickers: AI-SECTOR, DELL, SMH