OpenAI has added another notable domain to its portfolio with the acquisition of Chat.com. Sam Altman posted on X a simple link of the URL “chat.com” signalling the change.
— Sam Altman (@sama) November 6, 2024
Chat.com now redirects visitors to ChatGPT, a move that was confirmed by an OpenAI representative via email.
Originally registered in September 1996, Chat.com is one of the web’s longstanding domains. Reports last year revealed that HubSpot co-founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah purchased Chat.com for $15.5 million, marking it as one of the most expensive domain sales on record.
In March, Shah announced that he had sold Chat.com to an undisclosed buyer. Late today, he confirmed on X that OpenAI was the purchaser, hinting that the transaction might have involved OpenAI shares.
OpenAI has not disclosed the amount they paid for this acquisition, but people predict it’s likely more than $15 million.
The race to acquiring domains has been long standing. Last year, OpenAI was the first to acquire ai.com, to make AI synonymous with ChatGPT.
A few months later, ai.com was leading to Elon Musk’s xAI, highlighting its mission to understand reality. But it was not revealed if Musk actually bought the domain from OpenAI or if it was just the owner of the domain trying to sell it to both the parties.
Cut to present, Chat.com and ai.com, both now redirect to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
