The Real Water Thief Isn’t AI — It’s the License You Never Knew Existed
The panic over AI datacentres guzzling water and energy is a distraction. The real drain on our resources comes from industrial licenses held by Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and others — licenses that have been quietly reshaping our communities for decades. By pitting AI against homes, we let the underlying system of pricing and permits off the hook. The choice isn’t datacentres or homes; it’s whose license gets renewed.