OpenAI has successfully acquired the domain name chat.com, which now directs users to ChatGPT, from Dharmesh Shah, the founder of HubSpot. This acquisition is notable as it could rank among the largest domain purchases ever recorded.
Key Points:
- Dharmesh Shah’s Purchase: Shah acquired chat.com in March 2023 for approximately $15.5 million.
- Subsequent Sale: Two months later, he announced the sale of the domain to an undisclosed buyer and donated $250,000 from the proceeds to Khan Academy.
- Confirmation of Sale: Over a year later, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman confirmed the purchase on November 7, 2024, by posting the URL on social media.
- Payment Structure: Shah indicated that he received shares in OpenAI as part of the transaction rather than a cash payment.
Significance:
The shift from “ChatGPT” to “chat” may reflect OpenAI’s strategic vision beyond its current branding, potentially signaling a transition towards advanced reasoning models. Despite the significant value of the domain, it represents a small fraction of OpenAI’s recent funding round, which raised $6.6 billion.
Link to the tweet by Dharmesh Shah
Now one should ask: What role does domain name strategy play in OpenAI’s overall business plan?!
More AI News