Ask.com officially closes as IAC refines its focus; “Every great search must come to an end,” the company states.

Ask.com, originally founded as Ask Jeeves in 1996, has officially closed its operations as of May 1, 2026.
IAC Chairman Barry Diller stated, “Every great search must come to an end.” This closure follows IAC's decision to narrow its scope in response to competition from industry giants like Google.

The search engine was known for its unique conversational interface, making it a precursor to today’s AI chatbots like ChatGPT. IAC expressed its commitment to refining its offerings in a challenging landscape, despite Ask.com's historical significance as one of the first search engines, launched a year before Google.

“As IAC continues to sharpen its focus, we have made the decision to discontinue our search business,” the company announced on its now-defunct website. The innovative nature of Ask.com, which focused on answering natural language queries, resonates with current trends in artificial intelligence and search technology. This shift illustrates IAC's strategy to remain relevant amidst modernization in the sector.

Ask.com, launched in 1997, officially shut down on May 1, 2026, as IAC refines its search focus, stating, “Every great search must come to an end.” Despite its historic presence, the platform will be discontinued amid intense competition from giants like Google and emerging AI technologies.