If you check out the FAQ section of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) website, you may notice that “.ai” domains are not included in the list of domain name examples.
That will likely change soon considering the growing prominence of .ai domains.
Interestingly, the .ai extension is the domain name for the Caribbean island of Anguilla. The country benefits financially every time a new .ai URL is registered. According to the New York Times, this revenue accounts for more than 10% of Anguilla’s GDP.
Ben Parfitt, Founder & CEO of Diligently.ai, consciously chose the .ai domain for his company, recognizing the economic benefits it brings to Anguilla. “I’m always looking at where the latest ‘hot’ domain extension is from,” Ben commented. “I think that it’s nice to have smaller nations share a slice of the pie from the AI boom.”
Conversely, Shainoor Khoja, Founder of Thriving.ai, was initially unaware that .ai was associated with Anguilla. She advised fellow founders to consider the implications of choosing the .ai domain for their company’s image. “Adding a descriptor to your company name, like Thriving.ai Care, can help distinguish your business from being perceived solely as a data company,” Shainoor suggested.
Both Ben and Shainoor are Massachusetts innovators (and Massachusetts Founders Network members!) who utilize artificial intelligence. Thriving.ai is a caregiving coordination platform for medical personnel and family members, whereas Diligently.ai helps businesses build AI-enhanced products.
Shainoor remarked on the ease of registering a .aidomain, similar to acquiring a .com or .org domain. However, Ben noted that circumstances required him to switch service providers and contend with a monthly bill nearly 20 times higher than that of a .com domain to maintain his .ai address.
In a broader sense, Shainoor emphasized the importance of responsible deployment for AI, whether serving as a domain name or search tool. “AI will have a transformative impact as things will be done faster,” she said. “Like all new technologies, the evolution will have to be closely monitored and managed.”
Ben added that he sees the browsing experience on the internet becoming better overall after AI is implemented on a wide scale, making it easier for users to find specific information.
In 2023, the Havard Business Review reported that a country a couple of thousand miles to the South of Anguilla, Brazil, was added to the top 25 AI-leading countries list. Other countries included on the list, in descending order, are the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. Until Anguilla reaches the list, the island continues to have its own special slice of the AI pie.