Colorado Uses AI, But Many Voters Still Dislike It
registered voters
People officially listed as eligible to vote.
margin of error
An estimate of how much a survey result may vary.
data center
A facility filled with computers that support digital services.
What happened
Colorado’s latest AI survey points to a gap between use and approval. Sentinel Colorado, a Colorado news outlet, reported that about two-thirds of surveyed Coloradans viewed AI unfavorably. The share reached 81% among adults ages 18 to 44. It was 55% among ages 45 to 64, and 49% among people 65 and older. At the same time, 60% said they had used AI tools during the previous year. Using AI does not automatically mean trusting it. That tension is the central story.Sentinel Colorado’s report
How the survey was measured
Magellan Strategies, a nonpartisan research firm based in Broomfield, conducted the survey. The report says no outside group paid for or developed it. The firm questioned nearly 1,400 registered voters between August 26 and September 2. Its reported margin of error was 2.63%. The survey included agreement questions and open-ended responses. That design captured both the size of concern and some reasons behind it.
The wider context
The poll appeared during a broader debate about AI safety. The report said Anthropic, the company behind Claude, had argued that AI was advancing too quickly for researchers to monitor safely. It also said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis, and entrepreneur Elon Musk publicly agreed that safety should come before growth. The report presents this as timing and context. It does not establish that those statements caused the Colorado results.
Why the numbers matter
Many negative responses focused on practical effects. People mentioned wrong answers, possible job losses, overreliance, and distrust of AI companies. Supporters cited more efficient work and help with tasks beyond their own training.
Data centers became a major part of the concern. A data center is a facility filled with computers that support digital services. Seventy-five percent opposed building one anywhere in Colorado. Eighty-six percent opposed one near home. Eighty-three percent said data centers use too much power. Eighty-two percent said they use too much water. Only 16% said the economic benefits outweighed the possible impact.
Colorado’s policy is changing too. A broad 2024 AI law targeted discrimination in decisions such as lending and hiring. Lawmakers replaced it with a narrower version this year. The legislature also postponed decisions about regulating or encouraging data centers. Some local governments moved toward construction pauses, while others welcomed new facilities.
What the poll confirms
The survey showed differences beyond age. Seventy-four percent of women viewed AI unfavorably, compared with 58% of men. Favorable views reached 48% among Republican respondents, 25% among unaffiliated respondents, and 20% among Democrats. Among people earning at least $200,000, favorable and unfavorable views were nearly even.
People also judged AI by its use. Forty percent saw possible benefits for medicine. Meanwhile, 74% expected harm to social media, and 73% expected harm to elections. The results suggest that many respondents are not judging AI as one single thing. They are separating possible benefits from specific risks.
What the poll cannot tell us
This was not a survey of every Coloradan. It questioned registered voters. The report does not show how many people both used AI and disliked it. It also records people’s concerns, rather than measuring actual changes in jobs, water use, or power use. The article does not answer whether these opinions will change over time.
What to watch next
The next questions involve local rules for data-center water, power, and locations. AI companies will also face pressure to answer concerns about accuracy, jobs, and trust. The poll’s larger message is simple: public acceptance may depend on conditions, not just capability.
Source: Sentinel Colorado.
Why Many Younger Coloradans Dislike AI
📰 Full story: Colorado Uses AI, But Many Voters Still Dislike It
A Colorado survey found strong doubts about artificial intelligence, especially among adults ages 18 to 44.
artificial intelligence
Software that can create answers or perform tasks.
registered voters
People officially listed as able to vote.
data center
A facility with many computers.
💡 The gist
- Most surveyed Coloradans viewed AI negatively.
- Adults ages 18 to 44 showed the strongest dislike.
- Water, power, jobs, and trust drove many concerns.
AI, or artificial intelligence, is software that can create answers. Sentinel Colorado, a Colorado news outlet, reported the survey.
Magellan Strategies, a nonpartisan polling firm, conducted it. The firm is based in Broomfield. Nearly 1,400 registered voters answered questions. They answered between August 26 and September 2. The margin of error was 2.63%.
The age gap was clear. Eighty-one percent of adults ages 18 to 44 disliked AI. The figure was 55% for ages 45 to 64. It was 49% for people over 65. Sixty percent had used AI tools during the previous year. Using AI and liking AI are different things. The survey does not show whether the same people did both.
Many negative answers focused on practical worries. People mentioned wrong answers, job losses, and overreliance. Some distrusted companies making AI. Others worried about water and electricity.
A data center is a facility with many computers. Seventy-five percent opposed data centers anywhere in Colorado. Eighty-six percent opposed one near home. Eighty-three percent said data centers use too much power. Eighty-two percent said they use too much water. Only 16% said economic benefits outweighed possible harm.
Some respondents also saw benefits. Forty percent thought AI could help medicine. But 74% expected harm to social media. Seventy-three percent expected harm to elections. These answers show a more detailed view than simple support or opposition.
Colorado’s AI policy is also changing. A broad 2024 law targeted discrimination in lending and hiring. Lawmakers replaced it with a narrower version this year. The legislature also postponed decisions about data-center rules.
This survey does not represent every Coloradan. It questioned registered voters, not every resident. Next, watch local rules and company responses. The central question is simple: Can AI earn trust around accuracy, resources, jobs, and oversight?
Source: Sentinel Colorado.
Many Colorado People Do Not Like AI
📰 Full story: Colorado Uses AI, But Many Voters Still Dislike It
A survey asked people what they thought about artificial intelligence.
AI
A computer helper that answers questions.
survey
Questions asked to learn what people think.
data center
A building with many computers.
AI means a computer that can answer questions. Colorado is a place in America. Sentinel Colorado, a news outlet, shared a survey. Magellan Strategies, a company that asks questions, ran it. Nearly 1,400 adults who could vote answered.
Among adults ages 18 to 44, 81% did not like AI. Among ages 45 to 64, 55% did not like it. Among people over 65, 49% did not like it. Sixty percent had used AI during the previous year. Using AI does not always mean liking AI.
Some people worry about wrong answers. Some worry that jobs may disappear. Some worry about water and electricity.
A data center is a building with many computers. Seventy-five percent did not want one anywhere in Colorado. Eighty-six percent did not want one near home. Eighty-three percent said it uses too much power. Eighty-two percent said it uses too much water.
Some people think AI may help medicine. Forty percent said it could help. The survey did not ask everyone in Colorado. It asked registered voters. So, it shows one group’s answers. Next, people will watch the rules around AI.
Source: Sentinel Colorado.