Artificial Intelligence has been the shiny new toy and now has hit a threat….but has it had an impact on the cannabis industry? 

The Chinese companies DeepSeek and Alibaba have upended artificial intelligence (AI) world this week. AI has been the new buzz world and an investment darling, raking in billions with the promise of a changed world.  Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, and more have worked to integrate into their businesses in the pursuit of more innovations, effectiveness and cost saving business lines. ChatGPT rocked the world and Nvidia become the darling of Wall Street.  But this week, analysts had a chance to review DeepSeek and it sent the US AI market spiraling…causes a dip in the stock market. Here is how AI impacts the cannabis industry. One of the downsides of this new technology is how venture firms have become hyper-focused on tech, specifically AI. When companies announce AI they get a stock boost and it is popping up in a variety of places from phones to appliances. The entry of DeepSeek could be a devastating event for venture capital firms who went all-in on foundational model companies. The amount of capital is much more than anything firms has ever before disbursed, based on what might be a suddenly-stale thesis. Now they could be in danger.

Despite the financial aspect, AI is helping the cannabis industry. It is having the biggest impact in various aspects of cultivation, production, and retail. This technological advancement is enhancing efficiency, quality, and sustainability across the entire cannabis supply chain.In cultivation, AI algorithms are optimizing growth conditions by processing environmental and plant health data to maintain ideal growing conditions. This maximizes yield and reduces resource waste. AI-powered video analytics and machine learning technologies are providing detailed insights into every aspect of the growing process. These systems analyze data from environmental sensors and cameras to monitor conditions such as light, humidity, temperature, and CO2 levels in real-time, making precise adjustments to maintain optimal growing conditions.

AI systems are also optimizing water and nutrient delivery to cannabis plants, significantly affecting yields and product quality. By analyzing data from soil moisture and nutrient sensors, these systems precisely adjust irrigation and fertilization schedules based on the plants’ needs. This technology not only improves crop performance but also conserves resources and reduces environmental impact.

In the harvesting process, AI-driven robotics are automating and streamlining operations. These robots use AI video analytics to determine the optimal harvest time for each plant, ensuring consistent quality and reducing labor costs. Companies like Bloom Automation have developed robots that can delicately handle plants, identify ripe cannabis flowers, and trim buds from branches with precision. RELATED: TikTok’s Double Standard on Marijuana And AlcoholMoreover, predictive analytics can anticipate customer demand and optimize inventory management, ensuring that products are available when and where they are needed.As AI continues to evolve, its impact on the cannabis industry is expected to grow, driving innovation, efficiency, and quality across all aspects of the sector. However, challenges such as high implementation costs for smaller companies and data privacy concerns will need to be addressed to fully realize AI’s potential in this rapidly growing industry. Also, the Chinese government have a worse aversion to cannabis than most companies, and it could impact customer perception in the future.

The Fresh Toast is a daily lifestyle platform with a side of cannabis. For more information, visit www.thefreshtoast.com.

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