Did Elon Musk Just Buy ChatGPT's Domain Name?

Going to AI.com now lands users on Musk's xAI website

Ben Wodecki, Jr. Editor

August 8, 2023

1 Min Read
Elon Musk photo
Getty Images

At a Glance

  • Elon Musk appears to have bought the AI.com domain, previously owned by OpenAI, for his new AI startup, xAI.

Elon Musk’s new AI startup xAI now redirects to the AI.com domain, which just recently was the home of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

AI.com now sends users to a page announcing xAI. The site outlines the new startup’s formation.

No confirmation has been given by either Musk or X (formerly Twitter) that a deal for the domain took place.

OpenAI had only purchased the domain from Google some five months prior.

No official amount of how much OpenAI paid for the domain was disclosed. However, speculation online pointed to a sum of $11 million.

Musk would have likely had to eclipse that amount to tempt OpenAI to part ways with the domain. Two-letter domains often go for high sums – and OpenAI’s speculated sum would have been the 12th largest amount paid among publicly reported domain name purchases, tying with the 2002 deal for Hotels.com.  

XAI also uses the domain x.ai. Dynadot is listed as the registrar for the domain, with x.ai registered since December 2017. WHOIS data on the domain only reveals the owners as being based in San Mateo, some 20 minutes away from the X headquarters in San Francisco.

Stay updated. Subscribe to the AI Business newsletter.

Read more about:

ChatGPT / Generative AI

About the Author(s)

Ben Wodecki

Jr. Editor

Ben Wodecki is the Jr. Editor of AI Business, covering a wide range of AI content. Ben joined the team in March 2021 as assistant editor and was promoted to Jr. Editor. He has written for The New Statesman, Intellectual Property Magazine, and The Telegraph India, among others. He holds an MSc in Digital Journalism from Middlesex University.

Keep up with the ever-evolving AI landscape
Unlock exclusive AI content by subscribing to our newsletter!!

You May Also Like