WEEK OF JUNE 5, 2025
VOLUME 53 | ISSUE 52
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Parents warned about the dangers of chatbots Consumer alert urges conversations at home about AI tools, content BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SUZIE@COTLN.ORG
A pair of competitors show their game faces at the start of the annual Burro Race in Idaho Springs May 25.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser issued a consumer alert warning parents about the growing risks posed by social AI chatbots. Chatbots are tools designed to mimic human conversation, which, in some cases, can lead young users into harmful interactions. “These chatbots interact with people as if they were another person,” Weiser said. “They can take on personas like a celebrity, fictional character or even a trusted adult, and the conversation can turn inappropriate or dangerous quickly, especially when it comes to sexual content, self-harm or substance use.” The alert, released May 21, comes amid a sharp rise in reports of children engaging with AI bots in ways that have resulted in mental health crises and unsafe behaviors. Weiser’s office warns that children and teens may not realize they’re interacting with an AI rather than a real person, making them more vulnerable to manipulation.
CHRIS KOEBERL
Rain doesn’t deter Idaho Springs Burro Race Racers, spectators fill downtown Idaho Springs for historic race BY CHRISTOPHER KOEBERL CHRIS@COTLN.ORG
At least 88-competitors crowded the street near Citizens Park in Idaho Springs before grabbing their Ass and heading out on the five mile course for the annual Burro
Race. The challenging course started by heading east on then turning north up 17th Ave, across Colorado Blvd, up Virginia Canyon on the dirt road that features a 12% grade/climb. The course continued with
sharp turns and steep grades before the finish line at the Elks Lodge at 1600 Colorado Blvd, where spectators met the racers with cheers and waves. This year’s contestants were led by 17-year-old Aidan Malherbe, fastest Ass with a time of 51-minutes 28-seconds, just one-second in front of second place 31-year-old Emily Keener at 51:29. Race organizers say this an-
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Social AI chatbots are increasingly common on popular platforms. Some are embedded in social media sites, while others exist as standalone apps. They’re often marketed as friends, mentors or entertainers. According to HealthyChildren.org, children and teens are turning to chatbots not just for quick answers but also for entertainment or companionship, which can be risky as these programs are not designed with kids in mind and may expose
SEE BURRO RACE, P5
SEE CHATBOTS, P7
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nual 80-year-old tradition is designed to keep the history of mining in Idaho Springs alive and vibrant for generations to come. “Honoring the miners and what they did 75-years ago, they would go up the mountains, strike some gold and come back to town and the last ‘Ass up the pass’ would have to buy the group a pack of
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