The Algorithmic Address: Navigating the Promise and Peril of .AI Domain Names
The Accidental Digital Goldmine The digital landscape is dotted with flags. Each domain extension, from the ubiquitous .com to the niche .museum, signals a particular intent, a specific community. But none buzzes with the same electric charge, the same potent mix of promise and potential peril, as AI. Originally the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Anguilla, a small Caribbean island, was . AI has become synonymous with artificial intelligence. This accidental branding has turned Anguilla's digital real estate into a goldmine, fueled by the explosive growth of the AI industry. But beyond the economic windfall, the rise of . AI raises profound questions about identity, ownership, and the very future we're building with this transformative technology. The Numbers Behind the Boom The trajectory of .AI domains has been nothing short of explosive. From approximately 50,000 registered domains in July 2018, the number has surged to over 600,000 registrations as of January 2025...