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The .ai domain extension has become the hottest digital real estate in tech. With AI dominating every industry, a .ai domain signals innovation and positions your brand at the forefront of technology.
What is .ai?
.ai is the country code TLD (ccTLD) for Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. Like .tv (Tuvalu) and .io (British Indian Ocean Territory), it's been repurposed for tech use—in this case, artificial intelligence.
Why .ai Became Valuable
| Year | Event | Impact on .ai |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | AI research accelerates | Early adopters register |
| 2020 | GPT-3 releases | AI interest explodes |
| 2022 | ChatGPT launches | .ai demand skyrockets |
| 2023 | AI gold rush | Premium prices reach $100K+ |
| 2024-25 | Mainstream AI adoption | Standard for AI companies |
Who Should Get a .ai Domain?
Perfect For
AI/ML companies, AI SaaS, AI-powered products
Consider Carefully
Non-tech businesses, traditional industries, local services
Ideal Use Cases
| Business Type | .ai Fit | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| AI SaaS | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Perfect alignment with offering |
| ML/Data company | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Strong category signal |
| Tech startup (any) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Modern, innovative positioning |
| AI-focused agency | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Credibility signal |
| E-commerce | ⭐⭐ | Unless AI-powered core feature |
| Local business | ⭐ | Likely mismatch |
Real Companies Using .ai Domains
| Company | Domain | Category | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character AI | character.ai | AI chatbots | $1B+ valuation |
| Perplexity | perplexity.ai | AI search | $520M+ raised |
| Stability AI | stability.ai | Image generation | Created Stable Diffusion |
| Copy.ai | copy.ai | AI copywriting | Major player in AI writing |
| Jasper | jasper.ai | AI content | $1.5B valuation (2022) |
| Anthropic | anthropic.com | AI safety | Uses .com, but notable |
Some major AI companies still use .com (anthropic.com, openai.com). But newer AI startups increasingly choose .ai as their primary domain.
.ai Domain Pricing
Registration Costs (2025)
| Type | Price Range | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Standard registration | $50-100/year | randomword.ai |
| Premium short names | $200-5,000 | four-letter.ai |
| Ultra-premium | $5,000-50,000+ | single-word.ai |
| Aftermarket | $1,000-$1M+ | voice.ai, chat.ai |
Registrar Comparison
| Registrar | Approx. Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porkbun | ~$55/year | Often cheapest |
| Namecheap | ~$65/year | Reliable |
| Google Domains | ~$70/year | Simple interface |
| GoDaddy | ~$80+/year | Higher markup |
| Name.com | ~$70/year | Good support |
Notable .ai Domain Sales
Premium .ai domains have sold for significant amounts:
| Domain | Reported Sale | Year |
|---|---|---|
| voice.ai | Undisclosed (est. $300K+) | 2023 |
| chat.ai | Undisclosed (high six figures) | 2023 |
| data.ai | Acquired by app analytics | 2022 |
| art.ai | Significant premium | 2023 |
Domain sales are often private. These figures are based on industry reports and may not be exact.
.ai vs Other Tech TLDs
| TLD | Best For | Avg. Price | Perception |
|---|---|---|---|
| .ai | AI/ML companies | $$$ | Cutting-edge AI |
| .io | Tech startups | $$ | Developer-focused |
| .app | Applications | $$ | Mobile/web apps |
| .dev | Developer tools | $$ | Technical audience |
| .tech | Technology broadly | $$ | General tech |
| .com | Everything | $-$$$$ | Universal trust |
How to Find Available .ai Domains
Check Your Brand Name
Is companyname.ai available? Check first.
Try Variations
If taken: getcompany.ai, trycompany.ai, usecompany.ai, hellocompany.ai
Consider Compounds
Two-word combinations often available: smartdata.ai, codeflow.ai
Use AI Name Generators
Tools like namemyapp check .ai availability automatically
Patterns That May Have Availability
| Pattern | Examples | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| verb.ai | get.ai, try.ai | Mostly taken |
| adjective.ai | smart.ai, fast.ai | Mostly taken |
| compound.ai | dataflow.ai, codebase.ai | Some available |
| invented.ai | synthex.ai, cognify.ai | More available |
| verbNoun.ai | buildbox.ai, traindata.ai | Often available |
Registration Requirements
Unlike some ccTLDs, .ai domains have minimal restrictions. Anyone globally can register without proving connection to Anguilla.
What You Need
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Residency | ❌ Not required |
| Business registration | ❌ Not required |
| Local agent | ❌ Not required |
| Valid contact info | ✅ Required |
| Payment method | ✅ Required |
Should You Buy a .ai Domain?
I'm building an AI product. Is .ai worth it?↓
Yes. For AI companies, .ai provides instant category recognition. The domain cost ($50-100/year) is minimal compared to other startup costs, and the branding value is significant. If a good .ai is available, get it.
I'm not in AI. Should I consider .ai?↓
Probably not. Using .ai for a non-AI business could confuse customers and set incorrect expectations. Stick with .com or an industry-relevant TLD.
Is .ai a good investment?↓
Premium .ai domains have appreciated, but domain investing is speculative. Only invest what you can afford to lose, and focus on domains you'd actually use.
Will .ai maintain its value?↓
As long as AI remains central to technology (which seems likely for the foreseeable future), .ai should remain valuable. But ccTLD policies can change.
Is .ai as trustworthy as .com?↓
For AI and tech audiences, .ai is highly trusted. For general consumers, .com still has broader recognition. Know your audience.
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