Mac mini shortages drive AI hardware prices up

Apple's Mac mini models are experiencing significant shortages, leading to inflated prices on secondary markets like eBay. The demand is fueled by their popularity for running on-device AI applications, such as OpenClaw and other local AI tools. Base models, previously priced at $599, are now being resold for over $700, with some refurbished units fetching even higher prices. This scarcity, coupled with industry-wide memory constraints, highlights the growing demand for accessible and efficient hardware capable of supporting the burgeoning field of local AI processing. The shortage has also extended to Mac Studio models, indicating a broader trend in Apple hardware demand for AI tasks.