The artificial intelligence revolution has fueled a parallel explosion in the .ai domain namespace, transforming it from a simple country code into one of the world’s most sought-after digital assets. As the value and demand for these domains skyrocket, the entire ecosystem is evolving. Major changes are underway, including a complete infrastructure overhaul, an expansion of domain offerings, and a new auction platform for expiring names. Here’s what you need to know.
To say the growth of the .ai domain has been explosive would be an understatement. In just over a year, the namespace surged from approximately 248,000 registered domains in June 2023 to over 610,000 by early 2025. With an average of 20,000 new domains being registered every month, the momentum shows no signs of slowing down.
Identity Digital takes over .ai domain
One of the most significant changes in the .ai namespace is the recent transition of .ai management from the Government of Anguilla to Identity Digital, a registry that oversees one of the largest portfolios of top-level domains (TLDs). This change addresses the growing pains the .ai domain, moving it away from its original infrastructure to a professional, global platform designed for reliability and scalability.
Previously, the entire .ai operation was based on the small island of Anguilla, which means everything was on island time. .ai domain holders were at constant risk of downtime from local digital interruptions or natural occurrences. The new management by Identity Digital upgraded the .ai domain to a modern cloud platform that comes with many benefits for registrants:
- Enhanced Performance & Reliability: By decentralizing the infrastructure, domains no longer depend on a single connection point on a remote island. This results in faster domain queries worldwide, increased uptime, and stronger resilience against cyberattacks and regional outages.
- Greater Accessibility: As a major player in the industry, Identity Digital has made it easier for registrars to offer .ai, already doubling its channel since taking over.
- Standardized Transfers: Now .ai domain transfers now include a one-year extension of the expiration date, aligning it with the common practice for most other TLDs.
New .ai domain extensions now available
In addition to the primary .ai domain extension, you can now register domains under several new second-level domains.
These new extensions offer more options for businesses, research projects, and AI-driven ventures to secure a relevant online identity without special registration requirements.
A new era for expired .ai domains
Another key change involves how expired .ai domains are handled. Previously, the registry ran monthly auctions, primarily managed through Dynadot. Following the transition to Identity Digital, Namecheap has won the right to auction all expired domains and moved to a daily auction.
While this change offers a unique opportunity for investors to acquire valuable domains, it also serves as a critical reminder for existing owners to pay close attention to their expiration dates, as accidentally letting a name lapse could now mean losing it to a daily auction.
The aftermarket proves .ai has staying power
The aftermarket sales and statistics clearly show that .ai is not just a trend but a significant force in the domain industry. This high demand is reflected in the aftermarket, where .ai domain names are going for impressive prices. The high end of the market is particularly strong, with numerous six-figure sales reported by brokerage firm GGRG and industry news site Domain Name Wire:
- Seed.ai — $225,000
- Sim.ai — $220,000
- Ace.ai — $205,000
- Rank.ai — $200,000
- Zip.ai — $200,000
- Mini.ai — ~$108,000
- Tether.ai — $100,000
Further data from Afternic consistently shows “ai” as the top keyword in domain sales, highlighting its dominance in buyer interest.
As the AI revolution continues its rapid expansion, the .ai domain is cementing its status as a top-tier digital asset. Don’t miss your opportunity to secure your own place in the future with the entire lineup of .ai domains.
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