Your Daily Guide

🤖 Taking Coloradans’ Temp on AI

A new poll by Magellan Strategies reveals that two-thirds of Coloradan voters hold an unfavorable view of AI. The largest worry among the group was AI’s potential to eliminate jobs, and over 80% of those polled opposed a data center near their neighborhood. [Magellan Strategies]

• The details: Magellan Strategies, a public opinion research firm based in Broomfield, surveyed 1,389 registered Colorado voters from Aug. 26 to Sept. 2 this year.
• Using AI: Despite the unfavorable views, over 60% of voters say they have used an AI tool in the past year. Of those who have used AI, about half have used it for both personal and work tasks.
• In the news: Owner of the Carriage House John Goscha sold his “kid-friendly” AI chatbot this week for $70 million dollars (You might remember the Carriage House as Secret Garden). The bot can do voices of popular children’s characters like Peppa Pig, and the company touts itself as the only one to “prove child-safe AI at scale.” [Denver Business Journal 🔒]
• Our takeaways: On today’s podcast, host Bree Davies sits down with contributor and editor of The Lever David Sirota to discuss what these poll results say about Coloradans.

💸 Trump-Aligned PAC Funding CO Republican Candidates

Millions of dollars from outside groups are pouring into Colorado elections to support Republican representatives and oppose Democrats. These groups have spent $2.4 million just this month on the CD8 and CD5 races, hoping to retain first term Republicans Gabe Evans and Jeff Crank. More than $1 million of the money came from a super PAC associated with President Donald Trump called “No Going Back PAC.” [Denver Post 🔒]

🚨 Teen Takeover Participants Face Charges

Six teenagers face charges after a viral “teen takeover” in Aurora last month got out of hand. Around 1000 teens gathered in an Aurora shopping center in August, prompted by posts from popular online streamers Quincy Helsel and Khan Asadi, according to Aurora police. Aurora police also said that some participants vandalized property and stole merchandise from nearby stores, prompting over 70 police officers to respond. [Aurora Sentinel]

• Want to hear more? I chatted with Aurora Sentinel reporter McKenna Harford (she used to write this newsletter!) about the takeover and more Aurora happenings last week on the podcast. [City Cast Denver 🎧]

🤔 What Does Alterra Want in the Gravel Pit?

Alterra Mountain Co., soon to be the newest resident of the former Denver Post building, might be getting a say in what happens to the gravel pit across the street at Colfax and Lincoln. Alterra has expressed interest in the space, and the city wants to give them “a seat at the planting [sic] table” for the project. The space has been the subject of multiple plans over the years, in order to address the “public safety concerns” of the area, according to Evan Dreyer, Denver mayor’s deputy chief of staff. [Denver Business Journal 🔒]

• Remember when… Back in 2024, a consulting firm proposed plans for a pickleball paradise at the busy corner, complete with six courts, a shade canopy, and a kiosk for equipment storage. Even before the ski resort giant had plans to move in, however, the city decided to change course and opt for an “artistic activation” of the gravel pit instead. Now who knows what’s going in there?