Sir,- Prof Jennie Stephens writing in The Irish Times on Thursday truly provides food for thought if not immediate action (“Artificial intelligence spells a real climate disaster,” May 21st). Our 120 data centres, required for AI, consume 22 per cent of our scarce electricity and this is projected to rise to 30 per cent by 2030. I read this electricity is supplied half price because they use so much.Water scarcity in Dublin will cost the taxpayer a fortune to take supplies from the Shannon as the same centres have a voracious thirst for cooling water.It seems reasonable to infer that both taxpayer and consumer are subsidising the billionaire tech-bro and mega companies. Minister for Higher Education James Lawless and radio advertisements have promoted the use of AI and by extension are promoting free of charge the wares of these companies. Is the Government possibly the donkey being directed by the carrot and stick of Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, etc? – Yours, etc,Joe Leake,Douglas,Cork.