I Tried New AI Project Planning Tools From The Home Depot and Lowe's—Here's What Happened

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are emerging to assist with home improvement projects, with both Lowe's and The Home Depot launching their own AI assistants: Mylow and Magic Apron, respectively. These tools aim to provide guidance for DIYers during project planning and shopping. Lowe's Mylow is available to MyLowe’s Rewards loyalty members, while The Home Depot's Magic Apron is accessible to anyone. The goal of these platforms is to bring the expertise of in-store associates to the digital realm, helping customers overcome challenges in their home improvement endeavors. To evaluate the effectiveness of these new AI tools, a remodeler and their spouse, with 25 years of home improvement experience, tested both Mylow and Magic Apron. The testing focused on accuracy, completeness, safety considerations, and whether the tools primarily functioned as product sales platforms. Four common DIY questions were posed to both AI assistants: what is needed to stain a wood deck, paint an exterior door, replace a bathroom faucet, and install crown molding. In terms of usability, Mylow was found to be easily accessible through the MyLowe's Rewards menu, with a clear prompt for questions. Magic Apron, however, was less intuitive to locate, appearing in two different forms on The Home Depot's website, with only one providing product links. This inconsistency led to varied responses depending on where the question was entered. Regarding accuracy, neither AI assistant provided thorough answers, but Mylow generally offered clearer and less problematic directions, seeming less like an AI. For example, when asked about staining a wood deck, Magic Apron suggested using a pressure washer without adequate safety or technique advice, which could damage the deck if used incorrectly by a novice. Mylow, on the other hand, only suggested a hose, avoiding this potential issue. In another instance, Mylow advised removing or propping open an exterior door for painting, a crucial step omitted by Magic Apron. While the steps provided were not inherently wrong, they were often incomplete, making Mylow more helpful overall. Product recommendations were also a key area of comparison. Mylow's suggestions were generally accurate for the projects, though often lacking in comprehensiveness (e.g., suggesting a paint roller but not a frame or tray). Magic Apron's product recommendations were frequently problematic, linking to irrelevant or incorrect items, such as hidden fasteners for deck screws when the decking was already installed, laundry detergent for deck cleaner, or inappropriate tools like a mop bucket for faucet repair or a spud wrench for a general wrench need. The Home Depot acknowledged these issues, indicating plans to refine their results. Neither AI tool provided an estimated project duration, which is a significant drawback for new DIYers who may underestimate the time commitment for tasks like staining a deck or painting a door. This lack of time estimation could lead to inconvenient or problematic situations. Despite their shortcomings, these AI tools can serve as a starting point for project planning. However, users are advised to exercise caution and conduct additional research, as the tools currently provide only basic steps without detailed explanations or links to supplementary how-to guides or safety tips. #AIHomeImprovement #DIYTools #HomeRenovation #SmartTechnology #Lowe'sMylow #HomeDepotMagicApron #ProjectPlanning #HomeAutomation #AIHomeImprovement #DIYTools #HomeRenovation #SmartTechnology #Lowe'sMylow #HomeDepotMagicApron #ProjectPlanning #HomeAutomation

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