Farewell, Jeeves: Ask.com Shuts Down

In Brief

Ask.com, nan hunt motor and question-and-answer work formerly known arsenic Ask Jeeves, has unopen down.

Ask Jeeves first launched successful 1996 and, pinch its attraction connected answering conversational questions posed successful earthy language, was arguably a precursor to today’s AI-powered chatbots. For astir of its 30-year history, however, it’s been overshadowed by different hunt products, particularly Google.

Holding institution IAC acquired Ask Jeeves successful 2005, quickly dropped “Jeeves” from nan name, and by 2010 had scaled backmost its hunt product to refocus connected Q&A. That aforesaid year, IAC Chairman Barry Diller said astatine TechCrunch Disrupt that Ask.com was not competitory pinch Google and was not weighted successful IAC’s stock.

A connection connected nan Ask.com website presently reads, “As IAC continues to sharpen its focus, we person made nan determination to discontinue our hunt business, which includes Ask.com. After 25 years of answering nan world’s questions, Ask.com officially closed connected May 1, 2026.”

Nonetheless, nan website insists, “Jeeves’ tone endures.”

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