Intel CEO Lip‑Bu Tan said in a podcast recorded in June that helium availability could become a bottleneck for AI chip manufacturing. The comment follows China’s announcement that it will cease exporting helium, a move that may tighten the supply chain for semiconductor fabrication. US Geological Survey data show that the United States produces about 81 million cubic meters of helium annually, the largest share, followed by Qatar, Russia, Algeria and Canada; China produced roughly three million cubic meters in March 2026, ranking sixth globally. Helium is used in deposition steps, wafer cooling, etching and in cooling extreme‑ultraviolet lithography equipment, processes essential for producing high‑performance chips. The AI industry’s multi‑billion‑dollar expansion has increased demand for such chips, raising the stakes of any supply disruption. China imports most of its helium and, because of U.S. sanctions, relies more on domestic chip production, making uninterrupted helium supplies especially important. Tan’s warning underscores concerns that power constraints and material shortages may limit AI demand growth. The duration of the export ban and its impact on global chip output remain uncertain.