Overview:
Fears of environmental degradation and laziness are deterring some folks from using AI.
Artificial intelligence is changing the way people find, consume and interact with information. From generating answers to summarizing news stories, AI tools are becoming an increasingly common part of everyday life. But as these tools become more prevalent, so do questions about accuracy, misinformation and trust.
For newsrooms, these developments present both opportunities and challenges. As part of our #newsCOneeds campaign, we’re also highlighting why trustworthy journalism and reliable local news sources remain important in an increasingly crowded information landscape.
This week, for Bucket List on the Street, we headed to Pearl Street to ask people how they use artificial intelligence, whether they trust the information it provides and what they believe its growing influence means for the future of news.
Life hack or creativity killer?
Kendra Lynn, who lives in South Boulder and works on Pearl Street, said she doesn’t use AI. Lynn was one of many Boulderites concerned about AI’s environmental impact, as well as its effect on our brains.
“I think it’s kind of a creativity-killer, and it also kills our environment, and I’m really not about that,” Kendra said. “I think it could be a good tool, but it needs to be regulated for sure.”
Some Buffs use AI… with caution.
Riley Young, a sophomore at CU Boulder, said she uses AI only as a last resort.
“I try my best not to use it,” she said, “But I’m a Japanese minor, so sometimes it explains things better and more specifically than Google would.”
Young said she tries not to use it too often because she doesn’t want to contribute to the environmental impacts of AI.
Other graduates think it’s unnecessary.
Jeremy Atwood from Loveland said he doesn’t see the need for AI in his life.
“I don’t really have a problem with it; other than I feel like it’s kind of lazy almost. Why would you let a tool do something you could do on your own?”
Atwood cited concerns that students in his classes were writing essays using AI. “They were paying to go to school and then not doing any of the work.” He said he saw this as a waste of time and money, saying they weren’t actually learning.
ChatGPT doesn’t know everything
Freddie Ambrose from Longmont said that he does not use AI because it’s not relevant in his job.
“I’m a park ranger, so I don’t have any use for it,” he said. “I create educational programs for visitors, so I feel like it just feels a little dishonest to not create that from information that I know, but from AI.”
Some environmentalists are using AI for good.
Local Boulder celebrity Stele Ely, nicknamed the “XOEarth Guy” for his environmental activism through art, music and performance, said he uses AI frequently, but intentionally.
“I use [AI] a lot for questions to decide the best strategy for helping the planet,” said Stele Ely, who frequently walks around Boulder with a miniature globe dangling from his bike helmet. “Usually small queries, no AI ‘slop,’ nothing that uses big bandwidth.”
Ely said he uses AI the same way he drives his car, only when absolutely necessary.
As AI continues to change how people interact with news and information, having reliable sources to turn to matters more than ever. Regardless of the landscape, local journalism still depends on people asking questions, talking to their neighbors and holding their communities accountable.
That’s why Bucket List Community News is participating in the #newsCOneeds campaign. Your contribution helps sustain independent, community-driven reporting and supports the journalists working to keep Boulder and Denver informed. Donate today and help ensure trustworthy local news has a future in Colorado.
