If the United States is serious about leading the world in artificial intelligence, it must confront a difficult truth: AI is not just about algorithms, venture funding, cloud platforms, or research labs. It is about energy and power grids, natural resources and supply chains, and human capital. 

Right now, the U.S. is unprepared for what is coming. China is rapidly integrating energy expansion, data center capacity, human capital, and global AI exports into a coherent national strategy.