Laundry machine with smart dispenser and method for operation

A laundry machine appliance, comprising:

• a cabinet forming an interior volume;
• a tub positioned within the interior volume;
• a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket forming a wash chamber extending along a vertical direction;
• a dispenser configured to receive a volume of detergent and dispense a portion thereof to the wash chamber;
• an imaging device positioned to obtain images at the wash chamber;
• and
• a controller configured to store instructions that, when executed, perform operations, the operations comprising:
• operating the imaging device toward the wash chamber;
• determining, via the imaging device, whether a detergent is provided to the wash chamber;
• when determined that the detergent is provided, via the user, to the wash chamber, transmitting a communications signal to a user to determine whether a user wants detergent to be supplied, via the dispenser, to the wash basket;
• dispensing, via the dispenser, detergent to the wash chamber, when the user requests dispensation of detergent by the dispenser;
• and
• when determined that the detergent is not provided, via the user, to the wash chamber, obtaining a user control signal corresponding to a command for starting a wash cycle and dispensing, via the dispenser, detergent to the wash chamber.