OpenAI Acquires Domain Name Chat.com for Undisclosed Amount
On Wednesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted “chat.com,” announcing that the company had acquired the short domain name, which now points to the company’s ChatGPT AI assistant when visited in a web browser. As of Thursday morning, “chatgpt.com” still hosts the chatbot, with the new domain serving as a redirect.
A Multimillion-Dollar Transaction
The new domain name comes with an interesting backstory that reveals a multimillion-dollar transaction. HubSpot founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah purchased chat.com for $15.5 million in early 2023, The Verge reports. Shah sold the domain to OpenAI for an undisclosed amount, though he confirmed on X that he “doesn’t like profiting off of people he considers friends” and that he received payment in company shares.
Shah’s Original Plans for the Domain
As The Verge’s Kylie Robison points out, Shah originally bought the domain to promote conversational interfaces. “The reason I bought chat.com is simple: I think Chat-based UX (#ChatUX) is the next big thing in software. Communicating with computers/software through a natural language interface is much more intuitive. This is made possible by Generative A.I.,” Shah wrote in a LinkedIn post during his brief ownership.
Conclusion
The acquisition of chat.com by OpenAI marks a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to expand its presence in the AI-powered chatbot space. The domain name, which was previously owned by HubSpot founder Dharmesh Shah, is now a redirect to OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI assistant. The acquisition highlights the growing importance of conversational interfaces in software development and the potential for AI-powered chatbots to revolutionize the way we interact with technology.
FAQs
Q: How much did OpenAI pay for chat.com?
A: The amount paid by OpenAI for chat.com is undisclosed.
Q: Who previously owned chat.com?
A: HubSpot founder and CTO Dharmesh Shah previously owned chat.com, purchasing it for $15.5 million in early 2023.
Q: What is the purpose of the chat.com domain name?
A: The chat.com domain name now points to OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI assistant, allowing users to access the chatbot through a web browser.
Q: Why did Shah sell chat.com to OpenAI?
A: Shah sold chat.com to OpenAI for an undisclosed amount, receiving payment in company shares. He stated that he “doesn’t like profiting off of people he considers friends.”
