Ask.com, the search engine and question-and-answer service formerly known as Ask Jeeves, has shut down.
Ask Jeeves first launched in 1996 and, with its focus on answering conversational questions posed in natural language, was arguably a precursor to today’s AI-powered chatbots. For most of its 30-year history, however, it’s been overshadowed by other search products, especially Google.
Holding company IAC acquired Ask Jeeves in 2005, quickly dropped “Jeeves” from the name, and by 2010 had scaled back its search product to refocus on Q&A. That same year, IAC Chairman Barry Diller said at TechCrunch Disrupt that Ask.com was not competitive
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