Ask.com is currently owned and operated by major U.S. media company InterActiveCorp (IAC), which acquired the Ask Media Group in 2005. The company operates at a pivotal point in its history—while maintaining a large user base, it faces ongoing challenges from dominant competitors like Google. In 2012, Ask.com made strategic acquisitions including nRelate and About.com to expand its content offerings.
Cyborg Score Rationale
Ask.com generated $25 million in annual revenue in 2026, indicating a modest revenue base. While the company maintains significant user reach and is backed by IAC's resources, it faces sustained competition from dominant search players and has outsourced core search technology since 2010, limiting differentiation.
Top Insights
Legacy brand with 30-year history (founded 1996 as Ask Jeeves) provides strong brand recognition and user trust in Q&A space
100+ million monthly active users globally demonstrates substantial reach despite competitive pressures
$25M annual revenue indicates modest but stable business generating reasonable monetization from user base
Ownership by IAC/InterActiveCorp provides financial stability and access to corporate resources, though limits independence
Named Competitors
Google Search — Dominant search engine with algorithmic and AI-powered results
Bing Search — Major search engine with visual and Q&A capabilities
DuckDuckGo — Privacy-focused search alternative
Wikipedia — Community-driven knowledge base
Recent Developments
(August 2014) Acquired Ask.fm social Q&A platform with 180 million monthly users and strong mobile engagement
(June 2023) Leadership transition with Timothy Allen appointed CEO of Ask Media Group subsidiary
(2026) Annual revenue maintained at $25 million reflecting stable operations
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