Crime & Safety
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.”
“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.
The crash involved a green Nissan X‑Trail and a grey Honda motorbike and happened at about 7.20pm on Friday, May 1.
The rider of the motorcycle, the 24-year-old woman, suffered a serious leg injury and is still receiving treatment.
Thames Valley Police say no one else was hurt and no arrests have been made.
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It is now asking for witnesses to help piece together what happened.
PC Ben Rowlands, investigating officer of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said he wants to hear from anyone who saw the collision, has dashcam footage or CCTV from the area around the time.
He said footage from vehicles, nearby homes or businesses could contain crucial details about the crash or the moments leading up to it.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or submit a report online, quoting reference 43260214656.
Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or via its website.
There are reports of traffic delays due to a vehicle fire on the M40 near Junction 9 slip road.
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For funeral directors, being visible at that moment has never been more important – yet many are finding it harder than ever to stand out online.
To support funeral directors through these changes, LOCALiQ UK is hosting a free 45‑minute online seminar designed specifically for the funeral profession called Increase Your Google Visibility: Five Easy Wins for Funeral Directors.
The session will take place at 12 pm on Thursday, May 7, and you can sign up for it on the LOCALiQ website.
It will explore how changes in local search, reviews and online trust signals are affecting funeral businesses and, crucially, what practical steps can be taken to improve visibility without technical expertise.
The seminar is hosted by Brandon Griffin, Head of B2B Marketing at LOCALiQ UK, and Sarah Harvey, Sales Excellence Manager, who works closely with independent funeral directors across the UK.
Together, they will share real‑world examples and simple actions that can make a meaningful difference locally.
Rather than focusing on complex marketing jargon, the webinar centres around five easy wins — practical improvements that funeral directors can realistically implement alongside their day‑to‑day responsibilities.
These include getting more value from Google Business Profiles, building trust through reviews, ensuring websites clearly reflect services offered, and strengthening local authority signals that search engines now prioritise.
Importantly, the session also addresses a concern many funeral directors are quietly expressing: “Nothing has changed — but something feels different.”
Families are still searching, but how and where those searches are surfaced has evolved.
Understanding those shifts can help protect call volumes and enquiries now, not months down the line.
The webinar is free to attend, lasts just 45 minutes, and is designed to leave attendees with clear takeaways they can act on immediately.
LOCALiQ won Standout SEO Agency of the Year at the 2026 UK Digital Excellence Awards.
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