What is an AI budtender?
An AI budtender is software that recommends cannabis products from a dispensary's live menu, based on what a customer says they want, the way a budtender would. Ours lives on a screen in the store. It is not a chatbot, and it is not medical advice. It is a faster way to get from "I don't know what to ask for" to three good options.
Why it is on the street
You may have seen the signs on 8th Avenue and on 18th Street. Some people smiled. Some people had questions. Both are the point.
People walk past a dispensary and assume they will be judged for not knowing the right words. The AI budtender takes that away. You tap how you want to feel, and the menu comes to you. Then a person takes it from there.
Pick your budtender
The screen opens with four budtenders. Tap the one that sounds like you, and the questions follow.
- The Connoisseur. Growers, terps, what just dropped.
- The Social. Going out, sharing.
- The Guide. New to this? Start easy.
- The Unwinder. Low-key nights in.
How it works
Four taps.
- How do you want to feel? Pick up to two.
- What kind of product? Flower, vapes, pre-rolls, edibles, and the rest.
- How strong?
- How much do you want to spend?
It then ranks what is in stock, inside your price range, with THC shown on every pick. Want more options? Tap "Show me more." Then walk the screen over to a budtender, or just point.
Everything it suggests is on the shelf at that moment. It reads the live menu, so it never recommends something we sold out of an hour ago.
What it will not do
- It will not ask for your name, your phone number or your ID.
- It will not build a profile of you. It keeps which answers get chosen, so we can see what people ask for. It does not know who you are.
- It will not tell you a product treats or cures anything. Nothing here is medical advice.
- It will not push you to spend more. Price is one of its four questions.
Why we built it
Three reasons.
Busy hours. On a Friday night the line moves fast. A good answer should not depend on how busy the floor is.
First-timers. Most people who walk in for the first time know how they want to feel. They do not know the words for it. The screen speaks their language and translates.
Straight answers. Every pick shows its THC and its price. No guessing, no upsell.
Also on the website
If you would rather plan ahead, the virtual budtender on this website does the same job from your phone. Tap "Find my match" in the corner of any page for three picks from our menu. The in-store screen is quicker, and it knows what is on the shelf right now.
Try it
Chelsea. 302 8th Avenue, between West 25th and West 26th Street. Hours and directions. Live menu.
Flatiron. 12 West 18th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenue. Hours and directions. Live menu.
Walk in, tap the screen, and a budtender will take it from there. Adult use only, 21 and over, ID required.
Elevate your ritual.
Questions people ask
What is an AI budtender?
Software that recommends cannabis products from a dispensary's live menu, based on what you say you want. At The Alchemy it is a touchscreen on the sales floor. It asks four questions and gives personalized recommendations.
Does the AI budtender replace your budtenders?
No. It is where a visit starts, not where it ends. Our budtenders are on the floor at both stores, and the screen hands you to them with three picks already in mind.
How does it choose products?
It matches your four answers, feeling, product type, strength and price, against what is in stock right now. It is not advice about your health.
Can I trust the THC numbers?
The THC on every pick comes from the lab-tested product data on our menu. Every product we sell is tested by a third-party laboratory, as New York State requires.
Does it store my data?
No personal data. It keeps which answers get chosen, so we can see what people ask for. It does not ask for your name, phone number or ID, and it does not know who you are.
Do I need to sign up or scan anything?
No. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing to scan. Tap the screen and start.
Why "super intelligence"?
Because it reads the whole menu at once and forgets nothing. The name is a wink. The budtenders are the brains.
Where can I try the AI budtender?
At The Alchemy Chelsea, 302 8th Avenue, and The Alchemy Flatiron, 12 West 18th Street, during store hours. 21 and over.
Please enjoy responsibly. Cannabis products are for adults 21 and older. Do not drive or operate machinery under the influence. Keep out of reach of children and pets. The AI budtender is for general information and is not medical advice.
The Alchemy Editors
Field notes from the counter at Chelsea + Flatiron.
Written by our procurement and budtender team. Every claim verified against NYS OCM regulations and current shelf inventory. Updated as the menu rotates.
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