High inflation and a weakening rupee against the US dollar have already increased the cost of essentials such as groceries and fuel. Adding to the burden, consumers now face further pressure as the prices of smartphones and laptops — such as the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy series, and devices from Dell and Asus — continue to rise. Experts are predicting that the prices of smartphones, laptops, video game consoles, external storage and even TVs may rise even further in the second half of the year. As tech companies pivot to building more AI data centres and continue to meet the increasing demand for AI services (think of ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini), there is a growing need for more memory and other components, which has strained the supply for consumer devices such as smartphones, laptops, and TVs. Yes, blame AI not only for taking over jobs but also for driving up the prices of smartphones and “essential” consumer electronics that people use every day.…