CMO Employment Agreement

LETTERHEAD]







January 18, 1999



Mr. Ted Briscoe



Dear Ted:



I am pleased to offer you a position as CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER for Ask Jeeves, Inc. ("the Company"). Your first day of employment will be January 20, 1999 (your "Start Date"). You will report to Robert Wrubel, president and CEO.



As Chief Marketing Officer, you will be responsible for the overall marketing efforts for Ask Jeeves, Inc., including:

- Marketing for Ask Jeeves sites (ask.com, Ajkids.com)

- Marketing for Ask Jeeves customer service

- Corporate marketing strategy

- Corporate communications

- Identification of market opportunities



BASE SALARY You will receive an annual salary of $170,000, which will be paid semi-monthly in accordance with the Company's normal payroll procedures. You will also be eligible to participate in any employee benefit programs that are, or may become, available to a Chief Marketing Officer at Ask Jeeves.



BONUS You will receive a guaranteed a bonus of $30,000, payable on the first year anniversary of your Start Date. You will also be eligible to receive an additional bonus of $100,000, payable on the first anniversary of your Start Date, based on criteria which will be jointly determined between you and the Company within 30 days of your Start Date.



Please note that this bonus plan is for 1999 only, and future bonus plans, if any, will be defined at a later date.



OPTIONS Upon your employment you will be awarded an option to purchase 800,000 shares of the Company's common stock pursuant to the Company incentive stock option





Ted Briscoe 01/18/99 Page 2





plan (the "Plan"), vesting over a period of four years, with 25% of the shares vesting on the first anniversary of your employment, and the remaining shares vestin ...