The state of AI in Colorado

Plus: Arrest affidavit from shooting of teen, promises broken on Rio Grande project, a third reintroduced wolf is dead and more

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Sep 13, 2024 - 10:59
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The state of AI in Colorado
Plastic bottles and paper waste on a moving conveyor belt in a dimly lit environment, likely a Colorado recycling or waste processing facility.
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Good morning and happy Friday! While I, like Calgary rockers Loverboy, am always working for the weekend, I’m particularly excited about what I have planned for tomorrow.

I’m heading to Durango — for the first time, despite being born and raised in Colorado! — to watch reporter Shannon Mullane lead a panel of experts talk about the future of water in southwestern Colorado and debunk myths about the Animas River. Then we’re going to put our elbow grease where our mouths are and head out to do a little river cleanup on the Animas with the San Juan Citizens Alliance.

If you’re anywhere near Durango and you’re looking to learn something and do some good, come on out and join us. The panel kicks off tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Durango Public Library — all the information is right here — and I hope to see you there! Make sure to follow me (@brofax) and The Sun (@thecoloradosun) on Instagram to see updates if you can’t make it.

I’m going to start stretching now for the drive, but before that, let’s dig into some news to round out the busy week we had in Colorado, shall we?

P.S. — This isn’t the only time this month you can watch smart people talk about smart stuff and hang out in person with Colorado Sun reporters. Get your tickets for SunFest here — with big discounts for Sun members — and come spend a Friday with us at the University of Denver!

Louisville-based AMP, previously known as AMP Robotics, has developed AI vision systems that have identified more than 150 billion items. The system recognizes different colors, textures, shapes, sizes, and patterns to identify material characteristics, much in the same way a person does. (Provided by AMP)

From helping teachers make lesson plans to telling residents what day their trash pickup is, Tamara Chuang reports on the Colorado companies trying to carve out a niche in the fastest growing tech sector — and the places that AI is already being put to work around the state.

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This property on Pleasant Park Road in Conifer was the site of Tuesday’s shooting of a 17-year-old boy looking for a spot to take homecoming photos. (Photo courtesy Zillow)

The 17-year-old who was shot through the windshield of his Audi S4 told a sheriff’s deputy that Mountain View city councilman Brent Metz pointed his handgun at the car and fired. Metz’s girlfriend had called Jefferson County authorities to say she spotted strangers on their home security system. Jennifer Brown has more details from the arrest affidavit.

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Mike (left) and his wife, Beth Deminco, fish the Rio Grande below Creede, Colorado on Sept. 6. (Dean Krakel , Special to The Colorado Sun)

Despite public commitments to improve the river as part of a $30 million dam safety project completed in 2020, Trout Unlimited and others say taxpayers are not getting the water for fish and recreation that they paid for, though the state says all legal requirements have been met. Jerd Smith with Fresh Water News has more.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife released five gray wolves onto public land in Grand County on Dec. 18, 2023. (Jerry Neal, Colorado Parks and Wildlife)

The collar of the male gray wolf, one of the original 10 wolves released under Colorado’s voter-approved wolf-reintroduction, sent a “mortality signal” on Monday after the animal had not moved for eight consecutive hours. Jennifer Brown has more from a tumultuous week for wolves.

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In “What’d I Miss?” the cartoonists break down the art of concealing racial bias into a simple, easy-to-understand instructional flier.

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Jim Morrissey has thoughts on the difficulties that have hampered wolf reintroduction triggered by voters who may have gotten more than anticipated.

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Drew Litton wonders if the Broncos can genuinely crave revenge against a quarterback they’re still paying — and who may not play Sunday.

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If you’re coming out to the river, I’ll see you tomorrow. If you’ve got your Sunfest tickets, I’ll see you on Sept. 27. Otherwise have a fantastic weekend and I’ll see you right back here Monday!

— Eric & the whole staff of The Sun

The Colorado Sun is part of The Trust Project. Read our policies.

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.

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