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Tech prices have surged by as much as 50 per cent, with artificial intelligence identified as a key driver of the increase. Consumers are reducing their spending on new technology as the cost of laptops, computers, smartphones, and gaming devices continues to climb. Some brands have seen price hikes of up to 50 per cent, according to reports. Over the past 18 months, major semiconductor manufacturers and global foundries have shifted production capacity toward enterprise AI servers and data centres, creating ripple effects throughout the supply chain. This shift has led to a shortage of essential components for consumer technology, resulting in reduced device supplies and rising wholesale prices, which have translated into increased costs for end users and squeezed margins for tech retailers. Retailers are responding by concentrating their promotional efforts around major sales events, according to JB Hi-Fi. As prices rise, customers are delaying purchases until these events, where high-margin items, such as refurbished phones or mid-range models priced at premium levels, may offer steep discounts. On Monday, shares in JB Hi-Fi dropped by 11.9 per cent following concerns about slowing sales momentum linked to the AI-driven price increases and supply issues. Despite posting record annual sales of $11.1 billion and a 6 per cent increase in net profit to $489.9 million, the company faces a difficult end to its fiscal year, citing supplier price rises and stock shortages in the technology category. JB Hi-Fi noted a noticeable decline in sales momentum during the fourth quarter, attributing it to supplier price increases and stock availability problems, along with broader economic challenges in the technology sector. To maintain sales volume, the company has resorted to slashing prices at the register, leading to a reduction in gross margins by 25 basis points in the second half of the year to 21.93 per cent. According to eToro analyst Josh Gilbert, investors are focusing on the four weeks of July, which have shown concerning trends. He stated that JB Hi-Fi's struggles could impact the broader Australian discretionary retail sector, given its role as a bellwether. During an investor call, JB Hi-Fi CEO Nick Wells highlighted the dual challenge of wholesale price increases of up to 50 per cent and supply difficulties, which have limited the extent of promotional activities supported by manufacturers. These factors have prompted consumers to delay discretionary spending until major promotional periods such as Black Friday, Boxing Day, and end-of-financial-year sales. July, however, lacks such events, contributing to the current sales slump. MST Marquee analyst Craig Woolford predicted that the slowdown in sales might intensify in the December 2026 quarter, noting that the entire electronics retail sector is grappling with similar challenges. Supply chain constraints caused by the global AI expansion are anticipated to last at least another 12 to 18 months, as silicon foundries remain fully booked by AI firms. Even major tech companies like Apple are affected, with rumors suggesting that only select iPhone 18 models will be available this year, while others are postponed to 2027. Meanwhile, Canva, a prominent design platform based in Sydney, has revised its internal valuation downward by nearly $10 billion, bringing it to $43.9 billion, a significant drop from its previous valuation of $53.9 billion. This adjustment follows an independent assessment and comes amid growing concerns that AI technologies could undermine the very platforms they were intended to enhance. Canva's largest Australian investor, Blackbird Ventures, has also adjusted its valuation of the company to $49.5 billion, reflecting a decrease from the $53.9 billion valuation established through a share sale a year prior. Canva's decision to lower its valuation is partly influenced by fears that AI could replace many of its services, particularly since anyone capable of crafting a simple prompt can now request a chatbot to create posters or pitch decks, tasks central to Canva's operations. Investors have already reacted negatively to other companies facing similar threats, with Adobe experiencing a 23 per cent decline in value over 12 months and HubSpot seeing a 45 per cent drop. Figma, which had a successful initial public offering a year ago, has lost about 68 per cent of its value. Canva itself has seen a weakening business trend, with its projected revenue growth for the year now at 20 per cent, down from an earlier forecast of 30 per cent. In contrast, the company achieved 38 per cent growth in 2025 and 45 per cent in the preceding year. Monthly active users dipped below 208 million in early August, showing little change compared to the same period last year, a factor Canva attributes to northern hemisphere school holidays and a user base skewed toward educational institutions. Despite these challenges, Canva maintains that it is positioning itself as an AI company that coincidentally provides design tools. The company has acquired several AI startups, developed its own design model, and claims to have significantly reduced the cost of delivering AI products. Canva co-founder and COO Cliff Obrecht emphasized the company's commitment to long-term vision, stating that being private allows for strategic investments beyond immediate quarterly goals. Blackbird partner Rick Baker echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in Canva's approach to leveraging AI effectively in the future.