Bunnings New Zealand general manager Melissa Haines said Buddy was designed to make it easier for customers to get started.
“Kiwis are renowned for rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck into home improvement projects and Buddy is designed to make that a little easier,” Haines said.
Bunnings has launched Buddy in New Zealand, its AI-powered shopping assistant. Photo / Martin Keep
“Whether you’re planning a weekend project, refreshing the garden or finally tackling the shed clean-out that’s been on the to-do list for months, Buddy provides practical advice, inspiration and product recommendations to help get projects underway.”
She said Bunnings was using artificial intelligence (AI) to complement the advice its staff provided each day.
Buddy is available through the Bunnings New Zealand website and app, following its recent rollout in Australia.
The assistant was built using Google Cloud’s Gemini technology and draws much of its guidance from Bunnings’ existing project and how-to material.
Bunnings said Buddy had guardrails and consent-based interactions intended to ensure the guidance it provided was relevant and responsible.
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