Ask.com has shut down, marking the official farewell to the Internet's favorite butler

image via Engadget

May 3, 2026, 4:17 PM

• •Ask.com, originally Ask Jeeves, has ceased operations.
• •The search engine was known for its butler mascot, Jeeves.
• •Ask.com's approach to search may have influenced modern AI chatbots.
• •The closure represents the end of an era in internet history.

Ask.com, the search engine formerly known as Ask Jeeves, has officially shut down after 25 years of operation. The closure marks the end of the company's search business, as announced by its parent company, IAC. Ask.com's legacy includes its natural language approach to search, which could be seen as a precursor to modern AI chatbots. The shutdown of Ask.com, along with other early internet services, signifies the end of a particular era in the history of the Internet.

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