SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said the global memory market could face its worst-ever supply imbalance next year as AI demand outpaces capacity expansion, raising the risk of chipflation. In a recent CNBC interview, he said customers are seeking nearly double earlier supply volumes, expansion can take four to five years, and HBM demand remains above available supply as AI server orders rise and major technology companies pursue longer-term agreements. Chey said SK hynix is weighing a U.S. front-end fab despite site challenges, is already building a $3.87 billion advanced packaging plant in West Lafayette, Indiana, and is reshaping Big Tech ties around custom HBM-focused LTAs while exploring a memory-as-a-service model. He compared the AI sector to a four-year-old child and said AI agent use could grow 77-fold within five years, pointing to further demand growth as the market matures.