<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0001054298
<NAME> ASK JEEVES INC

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                         583,476               8,510,851              17,420,387
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0              34,109,840
<RECEIVABLES>                                   24,698                 378,940               9,626,582
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                  85,000               1,167,709
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               611,674               8,914,783              66,403,773
<PP&E>                                          71,079                 997,815               8,769,245
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,098                 118,885               1,353,243
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 678,655               9,933,411              76,164,089
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          110,858               1,596,310              30,646,966
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                      4,400              11,558,482                       0
<COMMON>                                     1,395,833               4,848,453             107,635,676
<OTHER-SE>                                   (832,436)             (8,115,779)             (65,784,313)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   678,655               9,933,411              76,164,089
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                22,603                 800,398              22,026,796
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0               1,399,392              14,083,930
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               752,777               6,367,368              62,849,568
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                  85,000               1,082,709
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                   5,738                 186,719
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (724,639)             (6,806,359)            (52,929,226)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (724,639)             (6,806,359)            (52,929,226)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (724,639)             (6,806,359)            (52,929,226)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.21)                  (0.74)                  (2.64)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.21)                  (0.74)                  (2.64)


</TABLE>