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Would n’t it be skillful to have a home advance expert by your side when you ’re plan and shopping for your next DIY project ? Well , you may be in luck . BothLowe’sandThe Home Depotare using artificial intelligence operation ( AI ) technology to seek to fulfill that dreaming . They ’ve created AI assistant tools design to avail guide customer through home improvement task .
“ base improvement can be complex for even the most experienced DIYer . Our vision with Mylow — the first AI - power household improvement virtual advisor — is to empower customers to overcome challenge and agnize their base improvement aspirations , ” aver Chandhu Nair , Lowe ’s older frailty president of engineering science . Coming in both desktop and mobile versions , Mylow is uncommitted to MyLowe ’s Rewards dedication members .
Photo: sturti via Getty Images
Anyone can get at The Home Depot ’s Magic Apron AI tool . “ Home Depot customers have always rely on the expertness of our orangeness - aproned associates in the aisle of our stores to answer questions and help them solve problems , ” suppose Jordan Broggi , executive vice Chief Executive of customer experience and chairwoman , online . “ Magic Apron is designed to take that same expertise to the digital man . ”
How did I test the new AI project planning tools?
As a remodeler , I felt these AI tools would immediately fall into the family of “ sounds too good to be true , ” so I was sceptically curious whether the AI nursing home improvement assistant sire clear and accurate information . I also wanted to know if it was really just a product gross revenue cock disguise as assistance . So my hubby , Mark Clement , and I used our 25 years of home betterment experience to quiz both instrument , call for them four popular how - to interrogation to train for accuracy , completeness , and rubber issues :
Here ’s what we discovered .
Are the AI home improvement assistants easy to use?
After learning that the Mylow AI dick is uncommitted to MyLowe ’s Rewards loyalty members , we found the link easily . It ’s in the menu bar , and drop dead to a page with prompts for seasonal labor interrogative sentence and a infinite to “ Ask Mylow ” a question that ’s less than 150 character . Entering a enquiry is easy .
The Magic Apron was a little harder to suss out . It ’s not on the menu bar or home page . On both mobile and desktop product pages , there ’s a section in each product Sir Frederick Handley Page that ’s shout out “ Ask about this merchandise . ” It say it ’s AI - father with an orange hexagon that I saw on the announcement for Magic Apron , so we thought that was the Magic Apron . However , there ’s another orange hexagon that appears on the bottom right - corner of the screen background web page . When I opened that second one , it ’s clearly labeled Magic Apron . Still , I typed the same question in both spots and receive two different solvent . Only the bottom right - quoin desktop Magic Apron provided connection to suggested products .
Do the AI home improvement assistants provide accurate answers?
This is a tough question to answer . As any experient DIYer can narrate you , every project is alone . It ’s elusive to allow the exact reply to a homeowner ’s specific spot in a how - to article or in an AI response . There ’s always something unparalleled happening . Setting that aside , we compared the directions provided by each AI assistant with the steps we ’d overlay in a base advance how - to clause for BobVila.com or our website MyFixitUpLife.com .
We found that neither AI supporter was thoroughgoing . However , Mylow provide clearer and less baffling directions and it seemed less like AI . For example , we call for “ What do I need to stain a wood deck ? ” Magic Apron ’s step 1 included “ Rinse good with a garden hosepipe or pressure washing machine . ” This could be tough for anyone who has never used a pressure washer , as there was n’t any advice onusing a pressure washerand a novice could wrack their Sir Henry Wood deck if they use a pressure washer incorrectly .
The Mylow answer only suggested using a hose , which eliminates the potential skill problem . Still , a air pressure washer would be the adept alternative for those who know how to apply it .
Photo: Theresa Clement for Bob Vila
When we ask about paint an exterior door , Mylow guide us to take away the room access or shore it open . Magic Apron did not learn us to prop up it undetermined with a wedge if we were paint it in place . While we set up that the steps put up are n’t wrong , they just are n’t complete . Using the four doubt we asked as the cornerstone for comparing , the Mylow was more helpful than Magic Apron .
“ Whether you ’re asking , ‘ How do I fix a leaky faucet ? ’ or ‘ What do I need to build a pack of cards ? , ’ Mylow gives clear , conversational response and links straight to the veracious merchandise so customer can move from question to action with confidence , ” say Nair . And we found that to be true .
Are the recommended products appropriate?
The ware recommendations for each question in the Mylow tool were accurate to each project . It is clear that a human has aid guide the Cartesian product suggestions that are include in each answer . However , we would have let in more products for each resolution . When we asked about tarnish a Sir Henry Joseph Wood deck of cards , we were given a sander suggestion that ’s corded — appropriate for sanding a deck — but not sandpaper stamp pad . pigment rollers were suggested , but not a blusher roller frame or tray . While these are obvious to an experient DIYer or professional , a new DIYer might not know they necessitate them .
The Magic Apron production recommendations are often debatable . Forstaining a wood pack of cards , the instructions included “ impregnable promiscuous board with deck of cards screws . ” The data link for pack of cards fucking include hidden fixing , which are impossible to use after decking is installed . The cleansing agent for the deck tie to a Thomas Nelson Page of laundry detergent . The paint hair curler link included J rollers . The soaked bristle brush link include conducting wire brush that can wreck wood and stain a cedar deck .
When we asked Magic Apron about thebathroom faucet , we were apprise to “ Use a pail to catch any dripping water . ” The tie include mop buckets that janitors utilise , which are way too large for a sink labor . The plumber ’s tape link include galvanized pipe hanger straps . The wrench link included a 16 - inch spud spanner that branding iron workers apply to ordinate bolt holes in sword hard-on for skyscraper . I could go on …
Photo: Theresa Clement for Bob Vila
So I inquire a repp at The Home Depot about the hunting results , and I was distinguish that they are planning to refine the termination to well attend to their customers and build technology to meet their needs .
Is there an indication of how long a project takes?
No . Neither AI helper indicated how many hour a project might take or how much clock time we would n’t be able to habituate our cesspool , door , or deck . For a new DIYer , not knowing how long it in reality takes to stain a deck or paint a front door could be problematic , as they might reckon they can get to tarnish the deck the Clarence Day before a party or may stop up being without a door overnight if it is n’t dry by the end of the day because they started at 4 p.m.
Many new DIYers unfortunately seemakeover shows , from which they might wait that a home project is easy than it is agile to complete . While you might see a few carpenters or an electrician in the background on a dwelling makeover show , you commonly see only the on - camera designer or carpenter , who typically do little of the body of work . And you do n’t normally see everyone who is working on the project ( like us ) , as well as numerous production assistants and other pros who speed up the piece of work .
I hope that both AI tools include a time estimation feature in their next update .
Photo: Theresa Clement for Bob Vila
Would I recommend these AI tools to a DIYer?
Yes , with caution , I would recommend using these AI tool as a starting head for planning a project . However , I would n’t apply them without doing other research into the project . While the overall didactics comply the canonic steps of a DIY labor , they supply only the basics of what to do without explaining why . And there ’s no link to other how - to instructions or tips on how to use tools like a smoother or insistency automatic washer . Not providing these follow - up details provide a new DIYer with missing information .
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Photo: Theresa Clement for Bob Vila
Photo: Theresa Clement for Bob Vila
Photo: Theresa Clement for Bob Vila
Photo: Theresa Clement for Bob Vila
