The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is opening applications for new top-level domains (TLDs) for the first time in years. These suffixes, like .com and .org, are fundamental to website addresses.
ICANN has announced 1,615 applications from 481 applicants, highlighting the pervasive influence of AI. Ten companies, including Meta and OpenAI, applied for .agent, while seven sought .agi. OpenAI also applied for .asi, aligning with the push for “super intelligence,” and Meta is interested in .superintelligence. OpenAI submitted 15 TLD applications, and Meta aims for 21.
The applications include generic domains for broad use, such as .geek, .anime, and .itiswhatitis, as well as branded domains for companies. There are 345 brand applications, featuring .applebees, .bankofamerica, and .zoom.
Tech companies are leveraging branded TLDs for innovation. Meta applied for .facebook, .instagram, .threads, and more; Bluesky for .bsky to enhance usernames; OpenAI for .chatgpt, .codex, and .gpt; and Anthropic for .anthropic and .claude. These domains could create memorable online experiences.
Alternate TLDs have faced adoption hurdles, though .ai and .app have succeeded due to tech trends. The current wave shows brands claiming their own domains, a strategy previously rare beyond Google.
Final decisions are expected next year, but this process underscores the lasting importance of domain names, even as AI shapes the internet.
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