Trending Now - Ask Jeeves Closes Its Doors After Failing to Adapt

WHO:

MJ Tsai - Ask.com, owned by IAC, announced the closure of its search business.

Fast Company - IAC, which is in the process of changing its name to People Inc.

WHAT:

MJ Tsai - Ask.com officially closed its search business on May 1, 2026.

Fast Company - Ask Jeeves, originally launched in 1997, was known for its cartoon butler mascot and was a significant player in the early internet search landscape.

Fast Company - IAC purchased Ask Jeeves for $2 billion in July 2005 and subsequently removed the "Jeeves" from its name.

WHERE:

Fast Company - Ask Jeeves was a web property that operated primarily online.

WHEN:

MJ Tsai - Ask.com closed on May 1, 2026.

Fast Company - The last significant news about Ask Jeeves prior to its closure was in November 2010.

WHY:

MJ Tsai - The decision to discontinue Ask.com was part of IAC's strategy to sharpen its focus.

Fast Company - Ask Jeeves failed to adapt to the changing landscape of internet search, ultimately leading to its decline.

HOW:

Fast Company - Ask Jeeves attempted various strategies over the years, including transforming from a general-purpose search engine to a user-generated Q&A site in 2010.

(UPDATED May 8, 2026 21:22 UTC)

IAC has officially closed Ask.com, marking the end of its search business, which was a significant player in the early internet landscape under the name Ask Jeeves, known for its cartoon butler mascot. The decision to shut down Ask.com, which took effect on May 1, 2026, reflects IAC's strategy to sharpen its focus, as the platform struggled to adapt to the evolving world of internet search. IAC had purchased Ask Jeeves for $2 billion in July 2005 and later dropped the "Jeeves" from its name, but despite various attempts to reinvent itself, the service could not keep pace with the competition.