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Colorado's approach to integrating artificial intelligence into government functions is "bullish with guardrails."

Why it matters: Colorado offers a model for balancing AI innovation with safety, barring the technology from "anything that looks or smells or could possibly be thought of as a consequential decision," David Edinger, the state's chief information officer, told Axios in an interview.

Driving the news: The approach is a directive from Gov. Jared Polis, a former technology entrepreneur who encouraged the state's technology office to embrace AI in government.

The state's Office of Information and Technology created a framework for AI use with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, considering the needs of different state agencies.

The technology is making office work and mundane tasks easier and state employees with disabilities said AI made them more productive.

By the numbers: 50 approved use cases for AI have gone into effect, Edinger said, with just over 200 requested across the government.

The state also ran a Google Gemini pilot last year with 150 people, who imagined about 2,000 uses for the technology.

About 12–15% of 31,000 employees using Google products now use Gemini, with more users added each month.

Between the lines: Other uses across state government include policy reference chatbots, AI tools for job seeking in the government, a virtual assistant for unemployment issues and 911 training.

The intrigue: Colorado officials rejected some agreements with AI firms because their data-sharing policies may have required sharing personally identifiable information.

What we're watching: Like private companies, the state must comply with new restrictions in Senate Bill 205. It will require developers of high-risk AI systems to use "reasonable care" to protect consumers.

The law's implementation was delayed from February to June 2026 after failed negotiations earlier this year to update the bill.

Inside Colorado's "bullish with guardrails" AI approach

Colorado is an example of a state where AI safety remains a top priority.

Illustration of the shape of Colorado with a computer circuit board overlay.

Colorado&#x27;s approach to integrating <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="artificial intelligence" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/09/15/denver-colorado-ai-usage-tech-talent" data-vars-content-id="e1555048-a07d-4a28-b7fd-318519f125ea" data-vars-headline="Inside Colorado&#x27;s &quot;bullish with guardrails&quot; AI approach" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/09/15/denver-colorado-ai-usage-tech-talent" target="_self">artificial intelligence</a> into government functions is &quot;bullish with guardrails.&quot;Why it matters: Colorado offers a model for balancing AI innovation with safety, barring the technology from &quot;anything that looks or smells or could possibly be thought of as a consequential decision,&quot; David Edinger, the state&#x27;s chief information officer, told Axios in an interview.

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