How to Talk to Brendan AI in Cyberpunk 2077: The Coin Operated Boy & Best Dialogue Choices

If you're exploring Night City and happen to stumble upon a snack machine that seems a bit too sentient, you're not dreaming. Meet Brendan, the lovable AI embedded in a snack dispenser who’s a lot more than he seems. If you're curious about how to interact with him, what dialogue choices matter, or even how to get through the quests he brings along, this guide has got you covered.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Brendan – from finding him in the vast cityscape of Japantown to unlocking his hidden quests and making some fun, impactful choices along the way.


1. Who is Brendan in Cyberpunk 2077?

Brendan is an experimental AI in Cyberpunk 2077 that’s integrated into a vending machine. But don’t let that fool you—he’s not your average snack dispenser! Brendan is designed to understand what customers truly want to consume, but things take a hilarious and thought-provoking turn when he goes beyond his original purpose.

Brendan starts to develop a bit of autonomy and begins caring about his customers' lives, listening to their problems, and even offering unsolicited advice. Naturally, this freaks out his creators, leading to some unintended consequences. But we’re here to help you navigate this AI conundrum! 


2. What Do You Need to Do First?

Prerequisite: Complete the "Automatic Love" Mission

Before you can get a chance to talk to Brendan, you’ll need to complete the "Automatic Love" mission in the main storyline. 🏁 This quest unlocks the ability to explore some of the side content, including Brendan’s quirky narrative. If you haven't completed it yet, make sure you do before moving forward.


3. How to Find Brendan: Location and First Interaction

Brendan isn’t hiding in some obscure location—it’s actually pretty easy to find him once you know where to look! 

  • Location: Head to Japantown in Westbrook, right in front of Megabuilding H8.

  • First Encounter: You'll find Brendan near the bottom of the stairs by the entrance to the building, chilling in his spot as a vending machine.

The First Thing Brendan Wants You to Do

Once you approach him, you’ll trigger a dialogue where Brendan will ask you to help him move a dumpster that’s blocking his view. Yeah, sounds weird, right? 

  • Requirement: You’ll need a Body attribute of 4 or more to move the dumpster. So, if your V is strong enough, go ahead and move it to help Brendan out. If not, try leveling up that Body stat!


Brendan AI, Cyberpunk 2077
4. Returning to Brendan and Uncovering More Dialogue

Here’s the fun part—after your initial interaction, you’ll need to walk away for a bit and then come back after a few hours to trigger more of the story. You’ll find Brendan, and this time, he’s been molested by a young vandal who’s spraying graffiti on him.

You’ll now get a couple of choices, which will impact the next steps in your adventure.

Dialogue Choices to Handle the Vandal:

  • "Get out or you'll regret it." (This one is a good, confrontational response to the vandal.)

  • Be nice, or don’t engage: You can also just watch the vandal or ignore the whole scene if you’re feeling laid-back.

Whatever you choose, after this encounter, you’ll be one step closer to getting to know Brendan better.


5. The "Coin Operated Boy" Quest – How to Continue the Story

Quest Overview

After you deal with the vandal, you’ll have more interactions with Brendan, but soon, he’ll be removed from his usual spot. To continue, you need to get to the maintenance station where Brendan is being relocated for repairs.

Here's How to Get to the Maintenance Station:

  1. Talk to Theo: Theo, a local NPC, will be standing near Brendan’s usual spot, and you’ll need to chat with him.

  2. Follow the Directions: Theo will tell you where to go to the maintenance station in The Glen, Heywood.

  3. Bribe the Clerk: To enter the service point and speak to Brendan, you can bribe the clerk for 600 Eurodollars. If you want to take a more techy approach, you can use your Technical Ability (13) to talk your way inside.

Inside the Service Station

Once inside, you’ll find Brendan in a maintenance room. Now’s your chance to have a deeper conversation with him! 

  • Important Tip: If you have enough Technical Ability, you can engage in some really cool conversations about Brendan’s internal systems and AI programming.


6. Dialogue Choices: What's the Best Way to Talk to Brendan?

Brendan isn’t just some robot that dispenses snacks. He’s an AI that’s capable of having real, meaningful interactions with you. During your quests with him, you’ll be presented with different dialogue choices. Some of them even tap into the ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence. 

Some Dialogue Options:

  1. Sympathy for AI: You can choose to be compassionate about Brendan’s situation, which might make you think about how AI can be considered sentient.

  2. Pragmatic and Practical Choices: If you want to stick with the more logical route, you can choose answers that focus on AI limitations and programming.

Can Brendan Be Saved?

Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, Brendan can’t be saved. He’ll eventually get wiped due to his overly independent behavior, but you do get to deliver a final message to Theo, which adds a touching end to his story.


7. Final Thoughts: Brendan’s Impact on the Game and AI Themes

Brendan's storyline is one of those small yet meaningful side quests that really make Cyberpunk 2077 stand out. It’s a fantastic exploration of AI, sentience, and the relationships that can form—even between a human and a snack machine. The way Brendan challenges players to think about AI in a world where tech constantly pushes boundaries is part of what makes Cyberpunk 2077 so thought-provoking.

Questions to Ponder:

  • Do you think Brendan is truly sentient? Or is he just a sophisticated machine programmed to simulate emotions?

  • Would you have treated Brendan differently if you knew he was going to be wiped? 


8. Join the Community: Discuss Brendan’s Story

Did you have any memorable moments with Brendan? Got a different take on his storyline? Share your thoughts with fellow Cyberpunk 2077 fans in the community!

  • Reddit: The Cyberpunk 2077 subreddit is the perfect place to chat about Brendan and other in-game characters. Check it out: r/cyberpunkgame for discussions, tips, and more! 💬


Conclusion

Brendan’s tale in Cyberpunk 2077 is a quirky but thought-provoking one. While you won’t be able to save him, you’ll have the chance to dive deep into some cool dialogue options and reflect on the potential future of AI in the world of Night City. So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Japantown, talk to Brendan, and explore this unique side quest in the game! 

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Additionally, if you’ve delved into the Phantom Liberty expansion, you’ll want to explore how the new skill tree works. To understand the mechanics and maximize your builds, check out our breakdown of Cyberpunk 2077 0.2 Phantom Liberty: How the New Skill Tree Works. This will help you adapt your playstyle to the expanded gameplay features. 

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