LOWE'S DEPLOYS FIRST AT-SCALE AI ASSISTANT FOR RETAIL ASSOCIATES

Rhea-AI Summary

Lowe's (LOW) has launched Mylow Companion, marking a significant milestone as the first at-scale AI assistant for retail associates across its 1,700+ stores. Built in collaboration with OpenAI, this AI tool helps store associates provide expert-level customer service and accelerates employee onboarding. The system offers quick access to product details, project advice, and inventory information through natural conversational prompts and voice-to-text functionality. This launch follows the recent introduction of Mylow, the company's customer-facing virtual advisor, both leveraging the same AI foundation. The technology enables associates, regardless of their experience level, to confidently assist customers with complex home improvement projects and product inquiries, reinforcing Lowe's position as the most assistive brand in home improvement and a leader in retail innovation.

Positive

• First-mover advantage in retail AI implementation across 1,700+ stores
• Partnership with OpenAI strengthens technological capabilities
• Enhanced customer service through AI-powered product and project expertise
• Faster employee onboarding and training process
• Builds on existing digital innovations including Apple Vision Pro app and digital twin technology

Negative

• Potential dependency on OpenAI for critical store operations
• Implementation and training costs across large store network
• Risk of technical issues affecting store operations

Insights

Retail Technology Expert

Lowe's pioneering deployment of AI assistance to all store associates addresses retail's knowledge gap challenge while showcasing leadership in practical technology implementation.

Lowe's deployment of Mylow Companion represents a significant milestone in retail technology adoption. As the first at-scale AI assistant implemented across 1,700+ stores, this technology directly addresses a fundamental challenge in specialized retail: the vast product knowledge required in home improvement, where associates face daily questions about complex projects and thousands of different products.

The practical functionality focuses on associate needs, providing fast access to product details, project advice, and inventory information through existing handheld devices. The natural language interface, including voice-to-text capabilities, creates a workflow-friendly experience that should enhance adoption. The examples provided - answering questions about fertilizer for specific grass types or fixing leaky faucets - demonstrate practical applications rather than theoretical capabilities.

What distinguishes this implementation is its comprehensive rollout and integration with Lowe's broader technology strategy. Mylow Companion builds upon the same foundation as their recently launched customer-facing AI advisor (Mylow). This suggests a cohesive approach to AI implementation rather than disconnected experiments. The press release positions this as part of a pattern of innovation, alongside their Apple Vision Pro app and interactive digital twin for retail stores.

The collaboration with OpenAI lends technical credibility to the implementation, leveraging expertise from a leading AI developer. This partnership approach combines Lowe's industry-specific knowledge with advanced AI capabilities, potentially creating a more effective solution than attempting to build everything internally.

Financial Analyst

Lowe's AI associate tool addresses critical operational challenges while creating competitive advantages through faster onboarding and consistent customer service delivery.

Lowe's implementation of Mylow Companion addresses several operational challenges specific to home improvement retail. The press release identifies three concrete benefits: enhanced customer service, faster new employee onboarding, and associate empowerment. These benefits target fundamental retail challenges, particularly in a category where product knowledge significantly impacts sales effectiveness.

The technology appears strategically aligned with Lowe's brand positioning as "the most assistive brand in home improvement." By augmenting associate capabilities rather than replacing human interaction, the approach maintains the personalized service valued in this category while addressing knowledge inconsistencies. The tool helps associates "regardless of where they are in their career journey," enabling both new and experienced staff to provide consistent service.

The onboarding acceleration benefit could be particularly significant in retail, an industry that typically experiences high turnover rates. By enabling new associates to access expert-level information immediately, Lowe's may reduce the productivity gap between new and experienced employees. The press release specifically notes that associates can be confident "whether they've been on the job for five weeks or five years."

From a competitive standpoint, Lowe's claims market leadership with this implementation, delivering "two industry firsts within weeks of each other." This technology-forward positioning differentiates Lowe's in a category traditionally less associated with cutting-edge digital innovation.

While no specific metrics or financial projections are provided, the scale of implementation across 1,700+ stores indicates significant organizational commitment. The repeated emphasis on being "first-to-market" suggests Lowe's views these innovations as competitive differentiators in the home improvement market.

• Mylow Companion enhances customer service, speeds new employee onboarding, and empowers associates, showcasing Lowe's as the most assistive brand in home improvement
• First at-scale AI tool makes Lowe's associates more knowledgeable regardless of where they are in their career journey
• Mylow Companion follows the launch of Mylow—the home improvement industry's first AI-powered virtual advisor for customers—which was built from the same foundation

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowe's today launches Mylow Companion, an AI tool aimed at improving customer service and speeding associate onboarding. Purpose-built for associate sales floor devices, the app provides fast access to product details, project advice, and inventory information. The launch to all associates across Lowe's more than 1,700 stores marks the first time a retailer has successfully implemented this kind of technology at scale.

Lowe's launches Mylow Companion, the first at-scale AI tool and designed for Lowe's associates to help customers.

Associate expertise is uniquely valuable for home improvement retailers, as customers ask daily about a variety of complex projects and thousands of different products. Mylow Companion uses generative AI to tackle knowledge hurdles head-on. Whether they're new to Lowe's, working in their area of expertise, or supporting outside their department, Mylow Companion elevates the know-how of associates, enabling them to confidently assist customers. The successful rollout of an AI assistant to thousands of associates, a retail industry first, underscores Lowe's resolve to being the most assistive home improvement retailer.

"Mylow Companion is another example of Lowe's living out its commitment to elevate the customer and associate experience," said Seemantini Godbole, Lowe's Chief Digital and Information Officer. "Whether associates have been on the job for five weeks or five years, they can be confident they're delivering expert-level advice and assistance, and customers can trust they're getting the best service and experience of any retailer."

Lowe's is proud to lead the home improvement industry in AI, delivering two industry firsts within weeks of each other. Mylow Companion is built on the same foundation as Mylow, Lowe's customer-facing virtual advisor that was launched earlier this year. Mylow Companion and Mylow were both developed in collaboration with OpenAI and leverage Lowe's expert advice to empower customers and associates with fast, helpful information. Lowe's will continue evolving the experience on both, introducing new capabilities and refining functionality based on direct in-app feedback.

"Through our collaboration with Lowe's, AI is making it faster and easier for their associates to help customers find exactly what they need for their most important projects," said Brad Lightcap, Chief Operating Officer at OpenAI. "We're excited to support Lowe's transformation of retail by merging their industry-leading expertise in home improvement with our advanced AI capabilities."

Associates can use Mylow Companion with natural, conversational prompts, including voice-to-text for faster, hands-free use. Whether they're asked, "What kind of fertilizer works best for Bermuda grass?" or "How can I fix a leaky faucet?," Mylow Companion is able to deliver actionable information on the handheld devices associates already use.

Mylow Companion joins a growing list of Lowe's first-to-market retail technology, further positioning Lowe's as a leader in the future of retail. From pioneering the first home improvement app for Apple Vision Pro to introducing the first interactive digital twin for retail stores, Lowe's continues to raise the bar for home improvement.

About Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customer transactions a week in the United States. With total fiscal year 2024 sales of more than $83 billion, Lowe's operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs focused on creating safe, affordable housing, improving community spaces, helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts and providing disaster relief to communities in need. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

Media Contact
Caitlin Byrnes
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
caitlin.byrnes@lowes.com

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SOURCE Lowe's Companies, Inc.

FAQ

What is Mylow Companion and how does it help Lowe's (LOW) store associates?

Mylow Companion is an AI assistant that helps Lowe's associates provide better customer service by offering quick access to product details, project advice, and inventory information through natural conversation and voice-to-text functionality.

How many Lowe's stores will implement the Mylow Companion AI system?

Mylow Companion is being implemented across all of Lowe's 1,700+ stores, making it the first retailer to deploy an AI assistant at this scale.

Who is Lowe's partnering with for the Mylow Companion AI technology?

Lowe's developed Mylow Companion in collaboration with OpenAI, leveraging their advanced AI capabilities combined with Lowe's home improvement expertise.

What is the difference between Mylow and Mylow Companion at Lowe's?

Mylow is a customer-facing virtual advisor, while Mylow Companion is specifically designed for store associates to help them better serve customers with product information and project advice.

How does Mylow Companion impact employee training at Lowe's (LOW)?

Mylow Companion speeds up new employee onboarding and enables associates to provide expert-level advice regardless of their experience level or department.