<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2000

                              Registration No. 333-
                              ---------------------
                              ---------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ASK JEEVES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       DELAWARE                       7375                    94-3334199
       --------                       ----                    ----------
(State of Incorporation)   (Primary Standard Industrial)   (I.R.S. Employer
                            Classification Code Number    Identification No.)

                          5858 HORTON STREET, SUITE 350
                          EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94608
                          ----------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                    NET EFFECT SYSTEMS, INC. 1997 STOCK PLAN
                    ----------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                ROBERT W. WRUBEL
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                ASK JEEVES, INC.
                          5858 HORTON STREET, SUITE 350
                           EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94608
                                 (510) 985-7400
                                 --------------
       (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
                        area code, of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:
                             ANDREI M. MANOLIU, ESQ.
                                 MICHAEL WEINER
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                              FIVE PALO ALTO SQUARE
                               3000 EL CAMINO REAL
                        PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94306-2155
                                 (650) 843-5000

<PAGE>

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES         AMOUNT TO BE       OFFERING PRICE PER       AGGREGATE OFFERING          AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED             REGISTERED              SHARE(1)                PRICE(1)           REGISTRATION FEE
                             ----------              --------                --------           ----------------
<S>                         <C>                <C>                      <C>                     <C>
Common Stock ($.001 par
value      )                   497,353             $0.81-$103.00            $5,871,059.40           $1,550
                               -------             -------------            -------------           ---------
                               -------             -------------            -------------           ---------
</TABLE>

       (1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
       registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(l). The price per share
       and aggregate offering price are based upon the exercise prices of
       497,353 outstanding options to purchase Common Stock pursuant to the Net
       Effects Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

FEE CALCULATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           OFFERING PRICE          AGGREGATE
TITLE OF SHARES       NUMBER OF SHARES        PER SHARE          OFFERING PRICE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>                 <C>                  <C>
                           311,320            $0.81             $  252,169
SHARES                       6,766            $1.22                  8,255
ISSUABLE PURSUANT            1,849            $1.62                  2,995
TO UNISSUED                 42,961            $2.03                 87,211
STOCK OPTIONS                5,055            $2.43                 12,284
PURSUANT TO                  1,911            $4.06                  7,759
THE NET                     21,392            $6.08                130,064
EFFECT SYSTEMS,             58,076            $7.30                423,955
1997 STOCK                  48,023          $103.00              4,946,369
PLAN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TOTAL                  497,353                              $5,871,059
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>








                                       ii
<PAGE>

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents filed by Ask Jeeves, Inc. (the "Company") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement:

          (a) the Company's prospectus on filed July 1, 1999 pursuant to Rule
          424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
          "Securities Act");


          (b) The Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
          ended September 30, 1999;

          (c) The Company's current report on Form 8-K filed November 18,
          1999, as amended on January 20, 2000;

          (c) All other reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
          Exchange Act since the year ended December 31, 1998; and

          (d) The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained
          in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange
          Act on June 28, 1999, including any amendment or report filed for
          the purpose of updating such description.

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this registration
statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

                    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law the Company has broad
powers to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities they may
incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The
Company's Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its directors and
executive officers and may indemnify other officers to the fullest extent
permitted by law. Under its Bylaws, indemnified parties are entitled to
indemnification for negligence, gross negligence and otherwise to the fullest
extent permitted by law. The Bylaws also require the Company to advance
litigation expenses in the case of stockholder derivative actions or other
actions, against an undertaking by the indemnified party to repay such advances
if it is ultimately determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to
indemnification.

In addition, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that, pursuant
to Delaware law, its directors shall not be liable for monetary damages for
breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to the Company and its
stockholders. This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not
eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies
such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available
under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to
liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company for acts
or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for knowing
violation of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the
director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or
redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not
affect a director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its directors and
executive officers. Such indemnity agreements contain provisions that are in
some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in
Delaware law.

The Company maintains a policy providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, which insures directors and officers of the Company in certain
circumstances with a liability limit of $15,000,000 per claim and in the
aggregate, subject to varying retentions. This coverage is on a claims made
basis.


                                        1
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER            EXHIBIT

5                 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.

23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.2              Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5 to
                  this Registration Statement.

24                Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page II-1.

99.1              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan (as amended May 27,
                  1998)

99.2              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Agreement

                                  UNDERTAKINGS

1.      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
          made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                  (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
                  the Securities Act;

                  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
                  after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
                  most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
                  individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
                  change in the information set forth in the registration
                  statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
                  decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar
                  value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
                  registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
                  estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form
                  of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                  424(b) (Section 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the
                  aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
                  than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set
                  forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                  effective registration statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the issuer pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference herein.

          (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
          Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
          be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
          herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
          deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
          any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
          termination of the offering.

          2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
          determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
          registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d)
          of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
          benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange
          Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
          shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
          securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that
          time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.


                                        2
<PAGE>

          3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
          Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
          persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
          otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
          Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
          public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
          unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
          such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
          incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
          registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
          proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
          person in connection with the securities being registered, the
          registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
          been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
          appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
          it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
          will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                        3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Emeryville, State of California, on January 28, 2000.

                                ASK JEEVES, INC.

                         BY:   /s/ Christine M. Davis
                               ----------------------

                                      Christine M. Davis
                                      Vice President and Corporate
                                      Controller

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Robert W. Wrubel, Christine M. Davis and
Amy Slater, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be
done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or
she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                                                 TITLE                                    DATE

<S>                                        <C>                                              <C>
/s/    Robert W. Wrubel                    President, Chief Executive                       January 28, 2000
       ----------------                    --------------------------                       -----------------
Robert W. Wrubel                           Officer and Director
                                           --------------------
                                           (Principal Executive Officer)

/S/    M. Bruce Nakao                      Chief Financial Officer (Principal               January 28, 2000
       --------------                      -----------------------                          -----------------
M. Bruce Nakao                             Financial Officer)

/S/    Christine M. Davis                  Vice President and                               January 28, 2000
       ------------------                  Corporate Controller
Christine M. Davis                         (Principal Accounting Officer)

/S/    Roger A. Strauch                    Chairman of the Board                            January 28, 2000
       ----------------                    ---------------------                            -----------------
Roger A. Strauch

/S/    A. George ("Skip") Battle           Director                                         January 28, 2000
       -------------------------           --------                                         -----------------
A. George ("Skip")Battle

/S/    Garrett Gruener                     Director                                         January 28, 2000
       ---------------                     --------                                         -----------------
Garrett Gruener

/S/    Daniel J. Nova                      Director                                         January 28, 2000
       --------------                      --------                                         -----------------
Daniel J. Nova

/S/    Benjamin M. Rosen                   Director                                         January 28, 2000
       -----------------                   --------                                         -----------------
Benjamin M. Rosen

/S/    Geoffrey Y. Yang                    Director                                         January 28, 2000
       ----------------                    --------                                         -----------------
Geoffrey Y. Yang
</TABLE>


                                      II-2
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER            EXHIBIT

5                 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.

23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.2              Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5 to
                  this Registration Statement.

25                Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page II-1.

99.1              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan (as amended May 27,
                  1998)

99.2              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Agreement
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 19921}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ASK JEEVES INC", "cik": "0001054298", "assigned-sic": "7389", "irs-number": "943334199", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-95687", "film-number": "516881"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5858 HORTON ST", "street2": "SUITE 350", "city": "EMERYVILLE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94608", "phone": "9256039071"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2000

                              Registration No. 333-
                              ---------------------
                              ---------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                ASK JEEVES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

       DELAWARE                       7375                    94-3334199
       --------                       ----                    ----------
(State of Incorporation)   (Primary Standard Industrial)   (I.R.S. Employer
                            Classification Code Number    Identification No.)

                          5858 HORTON STREET, SUITE 350
                          EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94608
                          ----------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                    NET EFFECT SYSTEMS, INC. 1997 STOCK PLAN
                    ----------------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                ROBERT W. WRUBEL
                      PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                ASK JEEVES, INC.
                          5858 HORTON STREET, SUITE 350
                           EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94608
                                 (510) 985-7400
                                 --------------
       (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
                        area code, of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:
                             ANDREI M. MANOLIU, ESQ.
                                 MICHAEL WEINER
                               COOLEY GODWARD LLP
                              FIVE PALO ALTO SQUARE
                               3000 EL CAMINO REAL
                        PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94306-2155
                                 (650) 843-5000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM         PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SECURITIES         AMOUNT TO BE       OFFERING PRICE PER       AGGREGATE OFFERING          AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED             REGISTERED              SHARE(1)                PRICE(1)           REGISTRATION FEE
                             ----------              --------                --------           ----------------
Common Stock ($.001 par
value      )                   497,353             $0.81-$103.00            $5,871,059.40           $1,550
                               -------             -------------            -------------           ---------
                               -------             -------------            -------------           ---------
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
       registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h)(l). The price per share
       and aggregate offering price are based upon the exercise prices of
       497,353 outstanding options to purchase Common Stock pursuant to the Net
       Effects Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan.

FEE CALCULATION TABLE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           OFFERING PRICE          AGGREGATE
TITLE OF SHARES       NUMBER OF SHARES        PER SHARE          OFFERING PRICE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
311,320            $0.81             $  252,169
SHARES                       6,766            $1.22                  8,255
ISSUABLE PURSUANT            1,849            $1.62                  2,995
TO UNISSUED                 42,961            $2.03                 87,211
STOCK OPTIONS                5,055            $2.43                 12,284
PURSUANT TO                  1,911            $4.06                  7,759
THE NET                     21,392            $6.08                130,064
EFFECT SYSTEMS,             58,076            $7.30                423,955
1997 STOCK                  48,023          $103.00              4,946,369
PLAN
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    TOTAL                  497,353                              $5,871,059
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ii
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The following documents filed by Ask Jeeves, Inc. (the "Company") with the
Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement:

          (a) the Company's prospectus on filed July 1, 1999 pursuant to Rule
          424(b)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
          "Securities Act");

          (b) The Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
          ended September 30, 1999;

          (c) The Company's current report on Form 8-K filed November 18,
          1999, as amended on January 20, 2000;

          (c) All other reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the
          Exchange Act since the year ended December 31, 1998; and

          (d) The description of the Company's Common Stock which is contained
          in the registration statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange
          Act on June 28, 1999, including any amendment or report filed for
          the purpose of updating such description.

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part of this registration
statement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

                    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law the Company has broad
powers to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities they may
incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The
Company's Bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify its directors and
executive officers and may indemnify other officers to the fullest extent
permitted by law. Under its Bylaws, indemnified parties are entitled to
indemnification for negligence, gross negligence and otherwise to the fullest
extent permitted by law. The Bylaws also require the Company to advance
litigation expenses in the case of stockholder derivative actions or other
actions, against an undertaking by the indemnified party to repay such advances
if it is ultimately determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to
indemnification.

In addition, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that, pursuant
to Delaware law, its directors shall not be liable for monetary damages for
breach of the directors' fiduciary duty of care to the Company and its
stockholders. This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not
eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies
such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available
under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to
liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company for acts
or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for knowing
violation of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the
director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or
redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not
affect a director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

The Company has entered into indemnity agreements with each of its directors and
executive officers. Such indemnity agreements contain provisions that are in
some respects broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in
Delaware law.

The Company maintains a policy providing directors' and officers' liability
insurance, which insures directors and officers of the Company in certain
circumstances with a liability limit of $15,000,000 per claim and in the
aggregate, subject to varying retentions. This coverage is on a claims made
basis.

                                        1
EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT
NUMBER            EXHIBIT

5                 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.

23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.2              Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5 to
                  this Registration Statement.

24                Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page II-1.

99.1              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan (as amended May 27,
                  1998)

99.2              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Agreement

                                  UNDERTAKINGS

1.      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
          made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                  (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
                  the Securities Act;

                  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
                  after the effective date of the registration statement (or the
                  most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
                  individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
                  change in the information set forth in the registration
                  statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
                  decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar
                  value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
                  registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
                  estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form
                  of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                  424(b) (Section 230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the
                  aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more
                  than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set
                  forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                  effective registration statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the issuer pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference herein.

          (b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
          Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
          be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
          herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
          deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
          any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
          termination of the offering.

          2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
          determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
          registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d)
          of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
          benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange
          Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
          shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
          securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that
          time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                        2
3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
          Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
          persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
          otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
          Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
          public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
          unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
          such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
          incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
          registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
          proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
          person in connection with the securities being registered, the
          registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
          been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
          appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
          it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
          will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                        3
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Emeryville, State of California, on January 28, 2000.

                                ASK JEEVES, INC.

                         BY:   /s/ Christine M. Davis
                               ----------------------

                                      Christine M. Davis
                                      Vice President and Corporate
                                      Controller

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Robert W. Wrubel, Christine M. Davis and
Amy Slater, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be
done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or
she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his or her
substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

                                      II-1
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement
has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
SIGNATURE                                                 TITLE                                    DATE
/s/    Robert W. Wrubel                    President, Chief Executive                       January 28, 2000
       ----------------                    --------------------------                       -----------------
Robert W. Wrubel                           Officer and Director
                                           --------------------
                                           (Principal Executive Officer)

/S/    M. Bruce Nakao                      Chief Financial Officer (Principal               January 28, 2000
       --------------                      -----------------------                          -----------------
M. Bruce Nakao                             Financial Officer)

/S/    Christine M. Davis                  Vice President and                               January 28, 2000
       ------------------                  Corporate Controller
Christine M. Davis                         (Principal Accounting Officer)

/S/    Roger A. Strauch                    Chairman of the Board                            January 28, 2000
       ----------------                    ---------------------                            -----------------
Roger A. Strauch

/S/    A. George ("Skip") Battle           Director                                         January 28, 2000
       -------------------------           --------                                         -----------------
A. George ("Skip")Battle

/S/    Garrett Gruener                     Director                                         January 28, 2000
       ---------------                     --------                                         -----------------
Garrett Gruener

/S/    Daniel J. Nova                      Director                                         January 28, 2000
       --------------                      --------                                         -----------------
Daniel J. Nova

/S/    Benjamin M. Rosen                   Director                                         January 28, 2000
       -----------------                   --------                                         -----------------
Benjamin M. Rosen

/S/    Geoffrey Y. Yang                    Director                                         January 28, 2000
       ----------------                    --------                                         -----------------
Geoffrey Y. Yang
II-2
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER            EXHIBIT

5                 Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.

23.1              Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors

23.2              Consent of Cooley Godward LLP is contained in Exhibit 5 to
                  this Registration Statement.

25                Power of Attorney is contained on the signature page II-1.

99.1              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan (as amended May 27,
                  1998)

99.2              Net Effect Systems, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Agreement