Turn down your heating – by talking to it!

STRUGGLING US department store Sears saw shares leap by 20pc as it sealed a deal with Amazon to integrate its home appliances with the online giant’s Alexa voice recognition assistant.

Customers will be able to turn on their Kenmore brand appliances using the Amazon gadget – a speaker which can carry out instructions when someone talks to it.

Owners of Sears ‘smart’ products such as washing machines, fridges, heating devices and air conditioners will be able to use Alexa to control them with voice commands.

The store said users would be able to change the temperature on their air conditioner without leaving the sofa by saying: ‘Alexa, tell Kenmore Smart to set my air conditioner to 70 degrees.’

It is considered a bumper deal for Sears, which ironically has been one of the biggest losers from the rise of online giant Amazon, as shares have slumped 84pc.

Sears now has just 1,400 stores in the US, from around 3,400 stores a decade ago.

The company, once the biggest retailer in America, joins an increasing number of retailers and manufacturers – including Ford and Starbucks – which are integrating their products with Alexa in order to bolster sales.