This chapter investigates the often-unseen supply chain infrastructure that enables AI at scale, focusing on the material and logistical foundations required to “bring AI to life.” It explores the production networks for critical hardware—most notably the advanced semiconductor chips—and the energy supply systems that AI-intensive operations demand. The authors highlight how surging demand for AI accelerators (like high-end GPUs) has created complex global supply chains for chips, involving specialized equipment (e.g. extreme ultraviolet lithography machines) and a concentrated set of suppliers. These factors contribute to significant bottlenecks and even classic bullwhip effects, as limited production capacity and long lead times struggle to keep pace with rapid, unpredictable growth in AI needs. In parallel, the chapter examines the energy “stream” necessary to power data centers running AI algorithms. It discusses how constraints in electricity generation and grid infrastructure pose challenges to scaling AI, especially as power-hungry training and inference workloads proliferate. The chapter underscores that the success of AI deployments hinges on these hidden supply chains: securing sufficient chip fabrication capacity, managing strategic raw materials and components, and ensuring reliable, sustainable energy sources. By illuminating this invisible backbone, the analysis reveals that robust and resilient supply chains for technology and power are essential prerequisites for AI’s continued advancement.