.ai Domain

What Is a .ai Domain?

A .ai domain is a top-level domain originally assigned to Anguilla under the ISO 3166-1 standard for country codes. Like .io (British Indian Ocean Territory) and .co (Colombia), .ai has been repurposed far beyond its geographic origin.

Why .ai became popular:

• Perfect acronym match: "AI" is the universal abbreviation for artificial intelligence
• Tech credibility: Instantly signals AI, machine learning, or tech focus
• Short and memorable: Two-letter extension keeps URLs concise
• Startup appeal: Modern, forward-looking alternative to .com
• Availability: Many names taken in .com are available in .ai

Who uses .ai domains:

• AI and machine learning companies (Stability.ai, Perplexity.ai)
• Tech startups wanting AI positioning
• AI tools and SaaS products
• Research projects and labs
• Developers and AI enthusiasts

Check .ai domain availability to see if your preferred name is available.

Why Are .ai Domains So Expensive?

.ai domains cost significantly more than typical extensions—$80–100+/year for standard registration versus $10–15 for .com. Several factors drive the pricing:

Registry pricing:

The Anguilla registry (operated by the government) sets high wholesale prices. Unlike .com (wholesale ~$10), .ai wholesale costs are substantially higher, and registrars pass this through plus their markup.

Demand exceeds supply:

The AI boom has driven massive demand for .ai domains. Companies want the instant association with artificial intelligence, creating competition for quality names.

Premium positioning:

High prices actually reinforce .ai's premium perception. Companies paying $100/year for a domain signal investment and seriousness about their AI focus.

Limited alternatives:

For AI-focused branding, .ai has no direct competitor. Other tech-adjacent extensions (.io, .tech, .dev) don't carry the same AI-specific meaning.

Speculation:

Domain investors have registered many desirable .ai names, further limiting availability and driving aftermarket prices higher.

Typical .ai pricing:

The cost is worth it for companies where AI positioning is central to their brand. For casual projects, alternatives may be more economical.

Where to Buy .ai Domains

.ai domains are available through most major registrars:

Check availability first:

Search for .ai domains to see if your preferred name is available for standard registration. Many quality names are still unregistered.

Major registrars offering .ai:

• Namecheap – Competitive pricing, good interface
• Porkbun – Often lowest prices, clean dashboard
• GoDaddy – Largest registrar, wide availability
• Cloudflare – At-cost pricing (no markup)
• Google Domains (now Squarespace) – Simple management
• Name.com – Straightforward registration
• Dynadot – Good for bulk purchases

Comparing prices:

Registrar pricing varies significantly for .ai. Check multiple providers—differences of $20–40/year are common. Also verify renewal pricing, as some registrars discount first-year registration but charge more on renewal.

Aftermarket .ai domains:

If the name you want is already registered, check:

• Premium domain listings for names listed for sale
• Afternic, Sedo, Dan.com for aftermarket inventory
• Direct outreach via WHOIS to current owner

How to Register a .ai Domain

Registration follows the standard process with a few .ai-specific notes:

Step 1: Check availability

Search for your preferred .ai domain to verify it's not already registered.

Step 2: Choose a registrar

Compare pricing across registrars. Factor in:

• Registration price
• Renewal price (often different from first-year)
• Included features (WHOIS privacy, DNS management)
• Registrar reputation and support

Step 3: Complete registration

Provide required information and payment. .ai registration requirements are minimal—no local presence or special documentation needed.

Step 4: Configure DNS

Point your domain to your website by setting up DNS records (A records, CNAME, etc.) in your registrar's dashboard.

Registration requirements:

Unlike some ccTLDs that require local presence, .ai is open to anyone worldwide. No restrictions on who can register—individuals, companies, and organizations from any country are eligible.

Registration periods:

.ai domains can be registered for 2-year periods (minimum), unlike most extensions that offer 1-year registration. Budget accordingly.

.ai Domain Names: Finding Good Options

With the AI boom, many obvious .ai names are taken. Strategies for finding available names:

Use a domain generator:

Generate .ai domain ideas by entering keywords related to your project. Generators surface creative combinations you might not think of.

Naming approaches:

Descriptive names:

Names describing what you do: analyze.ai, predict.ai, automate.ai. Most single-word options are taken, but combinations may be available.

Brandable names:

Invented or creative names: synthex.ai, neurova.ai, cognitix.ai. More availability since they're unique.

Name + AI:

Your product or company name with .ai extension: [yourcompany].ai. Often available if your brand is distinctive.

Action words:

Verbs that suggest capability: generate.ai, detect.ai, optimize.ai.

Prefixes/suffixes:

Add common modifiers: get[name].ai, [name]lab.ai, [name]hq.ai, try[name].ai.

Check variations:

If example.ai is taken, try:

• getexample.ai
• useexample.ai
• exampleai.ai
• example-ai.ai (with hyphen)
• examplelab.ai

Browse all available extensions if your preferred .ai name is unavailable—alternatives like .io, .co, or .dev may work.

.ai vs. Other Tech Domain Extensions

How does .ai compare to alternatives?

When to choose .ai:

• AI or machine learning is core to your product
• You want instant AI association in your URL
• Budget allows for premium pricing
• Your target audience expects tech credibility
• The .com is unavailable or too expensive

When to consider alternatives:

• AI isn't central to your branding
• Budget is constrained
• You want a more established/traditional extension
• Your audience isn't tech-focused

.ai Domain for AI Companies

For AI-focused businesses, .ai offers specific advantages:

Brand alignment:

Your domain immediately communicates your focus. stability.ai needs no explanation—it's an AI company. This reduces the need to spell out "artificial intelligence" in your URL.

Competitive differentiation:

In a crowded AI market, .ai helps you stand out from competitors using generic .com addresses.

Memorability:

company.ai is often easier to remember than companyai.com or company-ai.com. The extension does the work of the "AI" branding.

Investor perception:

Particularly for AI startups, .ai signals commitment to the space. Many funded AI companies use .ai (Anthropic notwithstanding uses .com).

SEO considerations:

Domain extension has minimal direct SEO impact. Google treats .ai the same as other gTLDs for ranking purposes. However, the brand clarity and memorability can indirectly help marketing.

Examples of AI companies using .ai:

• Stability.ai (Stable Diffusion)
• Perplexity.ai (AI search)
• Character.ai (AI characters)
• Jasper.ai (AI writing)
• Copy.ai (AI copywriting)
• Runway.ai (AI video)

Cheap .ai Domains: Are They Possible?

Given the high baseline cost, strategies for minimizing .ai expenses:

Compare registrar pricing:

Prices vary by $20–50 between registrars. Shop around before committing. Porkbun and Cloudflare often have competitive .ai pricing.

Watch for promotions:

Registrars occasionally discount .ai registration, especially for first-year registrations. Set alerts or check during major sales events.

Avoid premium registry names:

The .ai registry designates certain names as premiums with elevated pricing ($500–5,000+/year). Stick to standard-priced names unless the premium is truly worth it.

Consider the total cost:

A .ai domain at $100/year costs $500 over five years. Compare this to:

• A mediocre .com at $15/year ($75 over five years)
• A quality .com from aftermarket at $2,000 one-time

Sometimes paying more for .ai is cheaper than acquiring a comparable .com.

Registration term:

.ai requires minimum 2-year registration. Some registrars offer slight discounts for multi-year purchases, but savings are usually modest.

Reality check:

Truly "cheap" .ai domains don't exist—the registry sets high wholesale prices. Budget at least $80–100/year for any .ai registration.

.ai Domain Risks and Considerations

Before committing to .ai, understand potential downsides:

Cost over time:

Renewal fees continue annually. A $100/year domain costs $1,000 over a decade—significant compared to .com at $150 for the same period.

Registry stability:

Anguilla is a small territory. While the registry has operated reliably, it's less established than major gTLD registries. Policy changes are possible.

AI association:

If your company pivots away from AI, the .ai domain may no longer fit your brand. .com is more neutral for business evolution.

Perception outside tech:

Non-technical audiences may find .ai unfamiliar or confusing. For B2C products targeting general consumers, .com may still be preferable.

Aftermarket liquidity:

If you need to sell a .ai domain later, the buyer pool is narrower than for .com. Valuations are less predictable.

Email deliverability:

Occasionally, newer TLDs face email filtering issues. .ai is established enough that this is rarely a problem, but worth monitoring.

.ai Domain History and Background

Understanding .ai's origin and evolution:

Assignment (1995):

IANA assigned .ai to Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, following the ISO 3166-1 country code standard.

Early years:

.ai was primarily used by entities associated with Anguilla, with limited international interest.

Tech adoption (2010s):

As artificial intelligence gained prominence, tech companies noticed the fortuitous abbreviation match. Early AI startups began registering .ai domains.

AI boom (2020s):

The ChatGPT launch and generative AI explosion dramatically increased demand. .ai registrations surged, prices rose, and the extension became synonymous with AI companies.

Current status:

.ai is now one of the most popular ccTLDs for tech companies, with hundreds of thousands of registrations. The Anguilla government earns significant revenue from registry fees—a windfall from alphabetical coincidence.

Revenue for Anguilla:

The .ai registry has become a meaningful revenue source for the small island territory (population ~15,000). Some estimates suggest .ai registration fees contribute millions annually to Anguilla's economy.