The idea of trusting an AI bartender to design a cocktail sounds more like a novelty than a serious drinking experience. Yet at CES 2026, the AI bartender proved that artificial intelligence can do more than recommend playlists or write emails. In my test, the AI bartender didn’t just mix a drink, it created a personalized cocktail that genuinely matched my mood and taste.
At first glance, the setup looks simple. The AI bartender is built into a sleek table with a large tablet mounted on top. Behind the surface sits an impressive collection of bottles, including liquor, syrups, juices, and flavorings. According to co-founder Alex Snesarev, the system can create thousands of different drink combinations, far more than a typical bar menu.
What makes the experience interesting is how the AI bartender interacts with guests. A camera positioned above the tablet scans your face to estimate your age and check for visible signs of intoxication.
If the system believes you have already had enough, it can automatically reduce the alcohol strength of your drink. This feature positions the AI bartender not just as a novelty, but as a tool that also considers safety.
Before mixing anything, the AI bartender asks about your flavor preferences. You can choose whether you like bitter, sour, sweet, or fruity drinks. This step feels familiar, similar to chatting with a human bartender. However, the next part is where the AI takes full control.
Instead of selecting a known cocktail, I spoke to the tablet as if it were a real bartender. I gave a loose description rather than a specific recipe. I asked for something fruity, strong, and festive to celebrate being at CES. The AI bartender processed this request for about a minute, analyzing the inputs before settling on a custom recipe.
The result was a drink called the “Weekend Fiesta Punch.” It included raspberry flavoring, cola, and around 28 grams of whisky, roughly equivalent to one standard shot. The name felt playful, and more importantly, the drink itself aligned perfectly with the vibe I had described.
The delivery added to the experience. The cocktail emerged cold and ready from a hidden slot in the table, almost like a magic trick. It immediately caught attention, turning a simple drink pickup into a small moment of spectacle. For events and trade shows, that kind of interaction matters.
In terms of taste, the AI bartender delivered more than expected. The drink reminded me of a Dr Pepper, thanks to the cola base and fruity notes. However, it tasted less artificial than a canned soda. That was surprising, given that the entire process was driven by software rather than human instinct.
What stood out most was consistency. A human bartender’s skill can vary depending on mood, experience, or how busy the bar is. The AI bartender, by contrast, followed its logic precisely. It measured ingredients accurately and delivered exactly what it intended to create. In this case, that precision worked in its favor.
That said, something was missing. While the drink was enjoyable, the experience lacked human connection. There was no small talk, no shared laugh, and no personal story exchanged over the counter. Ordering from an AI bartender requires placing trust in a machine, not a person, and that changes the emotional side of the interaction.
Snesarev was clear that the goal is not to replace human bartenders entirely. The company works mainly with catering firms and special event vendors. The AI bartender is designed for parties, corporate events, and exhibitions where speed, novelty, and consistency matter more than personal relationships.
In that context, the AI bartender makes sense. It offers a unique, memorable experience while reducing staffing pressure at large events. Guests get a custom drink, and organizers get a conversation starter that blends technology with hospitality.
The broader implication is clear. AI is moving into spaces traditionally defined by human creativity and trust. From cocktails to customer service, machines are learning how to personalize experiences in ways that feel surprisingly natural.
While AI cannot replace the warmth of a skilled bartender, this experience showed that it can complement the industry in meaningful ways. The drink was good, the process was smooth, and the result exceeded expectations. AI may not be human, but in this case, it knew exactly how to mix a moment worth remembering.
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