Ask.com Shuts Down: The End Of A Pioneering Era In Conversational Search

Legacy Of Innovation

Ask.com, originally launched as Ask Jeeves in 1996, has officially ceased operations. Long revered for its revolutionary approach to natural language questioning and conversational search, Ask.com was a trailblazer in an industry that now embraces AI-driven chatbots. Despite its early influence on the development of modern search interfaces, the service was eventually overshadowed by larger players, most notably Google.

Evolution And Strategic Shifts

After being acquired by holding company IAC in 2005, the brand underwent a strategic transformation. These included removing the “Jeeves” brand and shifting from a general search engine toward a question-and-answer format. The adjustments reflected attempts to adapt to changes in user behaviour and competition in the search market. Barry Diller said in 2010 that the platform was not competitive with Google, a view that shaped its longer-term direction.

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Implications For The Future

The shutdown was announced on the company’s website on May 1, 2026. Ask.com operated for nearly 25 years and was among the early services to focus on conversational-style queries. Its approach is now reflected in newer technologies, including AI-based search and chatbot interfaces.

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Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

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Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

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