Home Depot Expands AI Tool's Capabilities

The Home Depot has announced the nationwide rollout of new in-store capabilities for Magic Apron, its Al-powered shopping assistant designed to help customers locate products, receive project guidance and get answers tailored to their specific stores while shopping.

Using knowledge tailored to each customer's chosen store, Home Depot says Magic Apron aims to complement the expertise of associates to ensure a smoother shopping experience.

"Customers come to The Home Depot for expert guidance, and we know they want their shopping experience to be easy and efficient," said Jordan Broggi, EVP of Interconnected Retail. "Magic Apron takes the best of our digital expertise and brings it into the physical store, creating a more connected shopping experience that helps customers find products, get project guidance and make decisions faster. Our associates remain at the center of the shopping experience, and Magic Apron gives customers another way to access guidance and support while they're in our stores."

Home Depot says Magic Apron helps customers throughout their shopping experience by enabling them to:

• Get expert guidance and complete projects with confidence. Customers can ask Magic Apron product-specific questions, get help determining whether a product is right for their project, and get recommendations on the tools and supplies needed to complete a job. For example, a customer can take a picture of a bag of grass seed and ask what fertilizer is needed specific for their climate or find out what supplies are needed to patch and paint a drywall repair.
• Ask questions in multiple ways. Customers can text questions, use voice-to-text, upload pictures, and interact in their preferred language.
• Find products. Customers can access the map for their chosen store and find product aisle and bay locations quickly, with the ability to check product availability in-store as well as at other stores.