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OpenAI has made headlines with its acquisition of the prominent domain Chat.com, now redirecting all traffic to its AI chatbot, ChatGPT.?
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed the purchase in a brief announcement via X, where he posted simply, “Chat.com.”?
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 6, 2024
Originally registered in September 1996, the domain holds longstanding internet recognition and was previously acquired by HubSpot co-founder Dharmesh Shah last year for $15.5 million, marking it as one of the most notable domain transactions on record.
As of November 6, 2024, Chat.com now directs users to ChatGPT, enhancing accessibility to OpenAI’s flagship chatbot service.?
Although the exact amount OpenAI paid for the domain remains undisclosed, Shah in a LinkedIn post suggests the sale may have included owning Open AI shares, though the company is yet to officially go public.
Despite speculation, OpenAI does not appear to be rebranding ChatGPT itself. Rather, the purchase of Chat.com aligns with the company’s push to strengthen its foothold in the competitive AI market.?
This acquisition follows OpenAI’s previous purchase of AI.com in 2023 for $11 million, which was later sold to Elon Musk four months later.?
In recent months, OpenAI has been actively reshaping its structure and capital base, including a recent $6.6 billion funding round in October 2024, raising its valuation to around $157 billion. This funding underpins its transition from a non-profit model to a for-profit entity, a shift poised to impact its governance and long-term objectives.
