Seemantini Godbole Named 2026 Executive of the Year
Lowe's AI leader earned the recognition for spearheading the company's internal and external digital tools.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Do you trust that artificial intelligence tools in retail stores actually improve your shopping experience?
Time magazine recognized Seemantini Godbole as an Executive of the Year for 2026. Godbole, who joined Lowe's as chief information and AI officer in January 2026, was honored for her digital transformation efforts.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the growing importance of AI leadership in retail. Godbole's work aims to reduce friction in complex home improvement projects by leveraging advanced technology for both staff and shoppers.
More than 300,000 Lowe's associates now utilize the Mylow Companion AI tool. The platform is designed to process complex inquiries through text, voice, and photo inputs to provide real-time product and project information.
The players
Seemantini Godbole
She serves as the chief information and AI officer at Lowe's and was named a 2026 Executive of the Year.
Lowe's
This major home improvement retailer operates both customer and associate-facing artificial intelligence platforms.
The details
Lowe's currently manages two distinct AI systems: the consumer-facing Mylow assistant and the Mylow Companion tool for associates. By allowing employees to access project guidance instantly, the company seeks to streamline the customer service experience in its home improvement stores.
Timeline
Seemantini Godbole joined Lowe's in January 2026.
She was named an Executive of the Year during 2026.
The Tech Race
The widespread deployment of the Mylow Companion AI assistant highlights a shift toward integrating specialized generative AI into the retail workforce. This move represents a departure from traditional, manual training methods, positioning Lowe's as a leader in digital retail support.
Customers shopping at Lowe's may experience faster, more knowledgeable service as associates leverage AI tools to solve complex home improvement problems on the floor. This technology minimizes wait times by providing staff with instant access to specific product and project data.
The takeaway
The transformation of retail store operations through integrated voice and text AI is no longer a pilot project but an industry standard. Executives prioritizing these scalable tools can significantly improve both employee productivity and the overall customer experience.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts in technology, see the latest updates in Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TIME.
Live Poll
Do you trust that artificial intelligence tools in retail stores actually improve your shopping experience?
