Ask.com shuts down after 30 years as users say RIP Jeeves

Ask Jeeves was among the first internet search engines to launch back in 1996, two years before Google (in 1998).

Visitors to the search engine were greeted with the iconic butler character, known as ‘Jeeves’.

Ask Jeeves was rebranded in February 2006, changing its name to Ask.com.

Ask.com shuts down after 30 years

Now, after 30 years, Ask.com has shut down (effective as of May 1, 2026).

The website says: “Every great search must come to an end.

“As IAC continues to sharpen its focus, we have made the decision to discontinue our search business, which includes Ask.com.

“After 30 years of answering the world’s questions, Ask.com officially closed on May 1, 2026.

“We are deeply grateful to the brilliant engineers, designers, and teams who built and supported Ask over the decades.

“And to you—the millions of users who turned to us for answers in a rapidly changing world—thank you for your endless curiosity, your loyalty, and your trust.

“Jeeves’ spirit endures.”

Ask.com shut down on May 1, 2026. (Image: Ask.com)

“End of an era” – Internet users saddened by Jeeves’ “retirement”

The closure of Ask.com has hit users hard, with some labelling it the “end of an era”.

One person, posting on the Reddit group r/technology, said: “Ask Jeeves. Such an OG. Enjoy retirement.”

Another added: “Oh man. End of an era.”

A third user commented: “It’s actually quite amazing the staying power some of these early internet giants despite having fallen out of relevance decades ago. RIP, Jeeves.”

This person posted: “This was the first search engine I ever used when I first came online. Thank you for your service.”

While another fan wrote: “Nooooo, not Jeeves. What’s next, Alta Vista?”

Do you remember Ask Jeeves? Will you miss the search engine now that it’s shut down? Let us know in the poll above or in the comments below.