In a strategic move towards bolstering its brand identity, OpenAI recently acquired the domain chat.com, now redirecting to ChatGPT. The shift marks a notable step in OpenAI’s evolving approach to making AI-powered interactions more accessible and intuitive.
The acquisition comes from Dharmesh Shah, the founder and CTO of HubSpot, who initially purchased the domain in early 2023 for $15.5 million. Shah, a vocal advocate for conversational AI, described his motivation for the purchase as rooted in the potential of “Chat-based UX” as the future of software interaction.
He explained that the natural language interface, now enhanced by advances in generative AI, could redefine how people engage with technology.
After securing the domain, Shah briefly used it to direct visitors to a LinkedIn post where he elaborated on this vision. However, a few months later, he announced that chat.com had been sold, although the buyer and final sale price were initially undisclosed.
When OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted a link to chat.com on X (formerly Twitter), the mystery was solved: OpenAI was indeed the buyer. Shah confirmed on social media that OpenAI had acquired chat.com and hinted that he had accepted OpenAI shares as part of the deal instead of a traditional cash transaction. This choice potentially signals a long-term investment by Shah in OpenAI’s growth and success.
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This high-profile acquisition is consistent with OpenAI’s ongoing rebranding efforts. In September 2023, the company introduced a new line of “reasoning” models under the label “o1″—a departure from the familiar, yet generic, naming conventions like “GPT-n.”
The shift aims to create more distinct and representative names that align with OpenAI’s broader mission, as former Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew explained to The Verge.
The practice of acquiring so-called “vanity domains” to establish a memorable web presence is hardly new. For AI companies in particular, it appears to be becoming a branding necessity. For instance, AI startup Friend recently paid $1.8 million to secure friend.com, which came shortly after raising $2.5 million in funding.
For OpenAI, which has raised over $6.6 billion to date, a substantial investment in a valuable domain like chat.com—whether through cash or stock—seems like a logical, if not modest, step towards solidifying its identity and vision in the AI landscape.
In an industry increasingly defined by its competition, securing chat.com gives OpenAI a critical asset, providing users with a simple, intuitive entry point to its conversational AI products. As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, this focus on intuitive interfaces will likely play a key role in shaping how people interact with technology in the future.