OpenAI has made a notable acquisition by purchasing Chat.com, one of the internet’s oldest and most valuable domains, originally registered in 1996. Starting today, anyone visiting Chat.com will be automatically redirected to OpenAI’s widely popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT. This acquisition, confirmed by OpenAI’s spokesperson, further bolsters OpenAI’s position in the AI industry and adds significant brand recognition to its growing portfolio.
While the exact cost of the acquisition remains undisclosed, the domain’s value has increased substantially over the years, especially due to the premium “Chat” keyword, which holds high demand in the tech space. Last year, Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO of HubSpot, sold Chat.com for an impressive $15.5 million, making it one of the largest domain sales on record. Speculation about the sale had been circulating since March, and Shah confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that OpenAI was the buyer. He also hinted that the deal might have included shares in OpenAI, though no further details have been provided.
Despite the acquisition of Chat.com, OpenAI does not appear to be shifting its brand strategy. Rather than launching a separate brand or entity, Chat.com will simply serve as a gateway to ChatGPT, making the chatbot even more accessible to users worldwide. The acquisition is likely a strategic move to increase visibility, streamline access, and reinforce the connection between OpenAI and its AI-driven communication tools.
For now, the full impact of Chat.com’s acquisition remains unclear, but it is likely to enhance OpenAI’s visibility and strengthen its brand recognition, helping to draw in a broader audience as the company continues to expand its AI offerings.
