Daniel Mercer
Ask.com, which was originally launched as the Y2K stalwart Ask Jeeves, has officially ceased operations.
The homepage now states, “As IAC continues to sharpen its focus, we have made the decision to discontinue our search business, which includes Ask.com. After 25 years of answering the world’s questions, Ask.com officially closed on May 1, 2026.”
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Ask Jeeves was established in 1997 by the innovative Berkeley-based duo Garrett Gruener and David Warthen, just a year before Google introduced its now-dominant search engine to the world. During that time, Ask Jeeves‘ natural language processing, complemented by its engaging personality and branding, positioned it as the preferred web search and answer engine for early internet users. The website’s charming mascot, Jeeves, was inspired by the character created by P.G. Wodehouse, and even made memorable appearances at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, competing alongside other iconic corporate logos from the early 2000s.
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“Can one man have all the answers?” If he has access to the entire internet, the answer is absolutely yes.
However, while many users still nostalgically refer to the site by its original 1990s name, Ask.com has not been known as “Ask Jeeves” for nearly two decades. The brand dropped the latter name along with its beloved valet logo back in 2006. This significant transformation coincided with a change in ownership, as the brand was handed over to the American holding company IAC. In 2009, Ask.com was designated as the official search engine for NASCAR.
“We are profoundly grateful to the talented engineers, designers, and teams who have built and supported Ask over the years. And to you — the millions of users who have turned to us for answers in a fast-evolving world — thank you for your boundless curiosity, trust, and loyalty,” states Ask.com. “The spirit of Jeeves lives on.”
In light of the overwhelming shift towards generative AI-powered search engines and the rebranding of AI agents as the future of web browsing, the closure of Ask.com signifies a poignant end to the early dot-com era. Farewell Jeeves, and welcome AI.
David Bridges
