Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

In a direct push to secure America’s artificial intelligence hardware pipeline, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has publicly pressured South Korean semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Inc. to construct local AI memory fabs.

Speaking at a Micron Technology Inc.‘s event, Lutnick signaled reordering of the global tech supply chain, asserting that because U.S.-based Micron is aggressively scaling up domestic manufacturing, its Asian rivals will ultimately have “no choice but to follow” and invest on American soil.

Don’t Miss:

Driving the AI Supply Chain Home

According to a report by South Korean media outlet Maeil Business, Lutnick confirmed he is actively discussing expansion plans with executives from both Samsung and SK Hynix.

Lutnick acknowledged that inviting foreign competitors onto U.S. soil might create domestic friction, noting that the Micron CEO “may not be thrilled about rivals increasing their investment in the U.S.”

However, he emphasized that national priorities take precedence, stating that “strengthening America’s semiconductor supply chain is more important” than individual corporate rivalries. The ultimate goal, he stressed, is “to protect U.S. companies and intellectual property created in the United States.”

Trending: Avoid the #1 Investing Mistake: How Your ‘Safe’ Holdings Could Be Costing You Big Time

High-Stakes Geopolitical Reordering

The pressure arrives at a pivotal moment. SK Hynix will begin trading American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on Nasdaq on Friday, July 10, to raise capital for capacity expansion.

Reports state that Samsung and SK Hynix collectively plan to invest $880 billion over the coming years to meet skyrocketing AI memory demands.

Lutnick also navigated geopolitical tensions regarding Apple Inc.‘s pending request to source memory chips from Chinese firms like ChangXin Memory Technologies and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. Ltd.

See Also: Skip the Regrets: The Essential Retirement Tips Experts Wish Everyone Knew Earlier.

Cramer Says SK Hynix Is Worth Buying

On Mad Money Thursday, Jim Cramer called SK Hynix a major beneficiary of surging AI memory-chip demand.

“We know the memory chip business is on fire and if you’re willing to accept the volatility, I think you could do a lot worse than this one,” Cramer said.

Story Continues

Despite rallying massively since late 2022, he noted the stock remains attractively valued at roughly seven times expected earnings. “Their memory chips may sell at a huge premium, but the stock trades at a discount,” he added.

Image via Shutterstock

Read Next: Think you’re saving enough for your kids? You might be dangerously off — see why

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That’s why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn’t tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors can buy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors, FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

Immersed

Immersed is building technology for the future of work through spatial computing. Known for its AR/VR productivity platform that enables users to work across multiple virtual screens, the company has grown to more than 1.5 million users worldwide. Immersed is also developing Visor, a lightweight headset designed specifically for professional productivity, positioning the company at the intersection of remote work, extended reality (XR), and next-generation computing.

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio. Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

Realberry

Institutional-quality real estate has traditionally been difficult for individual investors to access. Realberry gives accredited investors direct access to private real estate opportunities backed by a team with 35 years of experience, $3.4 billion in assets under management, and $481 million in cumulative distributions paid to investors as of Q4 2025, according to the company. With a portfolio spanning 13 million square feet across seven U.S. states, Realberry focuses on acquiring, developing, and managing real estate with an emphasis on long-term value creation while its principals often invest alongside clients to help align interests.

Mode Mobile

Mode Mobile is changing the way people interact with their phones by letting users earn money from the same apps and activities they already use every day. Instead of platforms keeping all the advertising revenue, Mode Mobile shares a portion back with users who engage with content, play games, and scroll on their devices. Named one of Deloitte’s fastest-growing software companies in North America, the company has built a large beta user base and is scaling a model that turns everyday smartphone usage into a potential income stream. 

EquityMultiple 

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.