In a move that made a big impact in the digital world, OpenAI purchased the “chat.com” domain name and started directing users directly to the ChatGPT platform. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced this acquisition on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The “chat.com” link that Altman shared as a simple post attracted the attention of users by providing a direct transition to ChatGPT.
The previous owner of the domain was Dharmesh Shah, a well-known name in the software world. Shah, one of the founders of HubSpot, purchased “chat.com” for $15.5 million earlier this year. During the purchasing process, Shah emphasized that this domain name was a valuable investment for the communication and interaction platforms of the future. However, after a short time, Shah decided to resell this domain name for a high profit. Although no statement was made regarding the sales details, Shah stated that the domain name was sold for more than the amount it was originally purchased for.
OpenAI’s decision to switch a generic and user-friendly domain name like “chat.com” to ChatGPT is seen as a reflection of the company’s rebranding efforts. OpenAI, which has made a name for itself with the brand changes it has made recently, introduced a new series, “o1” models, last September. This new series stands out with its simpler and more understandable naming structure. At that time, the company’s former research chief Bob McGrew explained that OpenAI aimed to provide a user-friendly experience with more inclusive and catchy names instead of “GPT”.
In his post on LinkedIn, Shah detailed the reason for purchasing “chat.com” and stated that chat-based user interfaces have great potential in the software world. Shah emphasized that natural language-based interactions offer a more intuitive experience, especially with artificial intelligence-supported technologies, and predicted that such platforms will attract more users in the coming years.
Domain names changing hands for high prices is known as one of the familiar events of the digital world. Companies aim to both increase brand awareness and provide user-friendly access, especially by purchasing domain names with generic names. For example, earlier this year, an artificial intelligence-focused startup called Friend purchased the domain name “friend.com” for $1.8 million. OpenAI made a remarkable move with this acquisition and incorporated “chat.com” into its own structure. It is claimed that this purchase may have been made in exchange for shares.
OpenAI continues to grow with investments
OpenAI continues to grow with the huge investment funds it received last year. The company, which recently received an investment of $6.6 billion, is expected to use these funds in various strategic steps. This move, made to enable ChatGPT to reach a wider audience, is likely to provide a serious return to OpenAI in the long term.