Ask.com shuts down after 30 years of search operations
Original: Farewell, Jeeves: Ask.com shuts down
Why This Matters
Marks end of early search pioneer that prefigured AI chatbot technology
Ask.com, the search engine formerly known as Ask Jeeves, officially closed on May 1, 2026 after 30 years. Parent company IAC made the decision to discontinue the search business as it sharpens focus on other ventures.
Ask.com, originally launched as Ask Jeeves in 1996, has permanently shut down after three decades of operation. The search engine was notable for its natural language question-answering approach, serving as an early precursor to today's AI chatbots. IAC acquired the company in 2005, dropped the Jeeves branding, and by 2010 had scaled back search operations to focus on Q&A services. IAC Chairman Barry Diller previously acknowledged in 2010 that Ask.com was not competitive with Google and held little value in IAC's stock. The company's website now displays a farewell message stating Ask.com closed May 1, 2026, though noting that 'Jeeves' spirit endures.'