It appears .agent and .agi are about to be the hot new domains
ICANN has opened a new application round for top-level domains (TLDs), receiving 1,615 submissions from 481 applicants so far. The batch includes both generic suffixes like .anime and branded TLDs such as .facebook, with many AI-related strings — including .agent, .agi and .chatgpt — drawing multiple bids from major tech firms.
Why It Matters
The applications signal renewed commercial interest in custom and category-specific domain endings after years of relative quiet, and major technology companies are seeking control of AI-related and branded TLDs that could shape how services and identities appear on the web. Approval decisions are still pending and likely won’t be finalized until next year, so these submissions represent intent rather than immediate change.
Key Facts
- Number of applications submitted: 1,615
- Number of distinct applicants: 481
- Applicants for .agent: 10 companies, including Meta and OpenAI
- Applicants for .agi: 7 companies, including OpenAI
- Applicants for .asi: 6 companies, including OpenAI},{
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has reopened the door for new top-level domain registrations for the first time in several years, and the initial filing list reflects strong interest from both generic registries and large brands. So far the organization has cataloged 1,615 applications coming from 481 different entities. The submissions mix playful and niche strings — from .haha and .geek to .anime and .jackpot — with commercially focused proposals. A clear theme in the current round is an emphasis on AI-related domains. Ten applicants, among them Meta and OpenAI, have filed for .agent. Seven parties, including OpenAI, sought .agi, while six applied for .asi. Companies also targeted longer AI-themed strings: four organizations applied for .intelligence, and Meta is one of two bidders for .superintelligence. OpenAI’s slate includes 15 TLDs in total, and Meta has applied for 21. Alongside these generic-style domains are 345 brand-specific applications that would give companies exclusive control over their own suffixes. Examples in the filing list include .applebees, .bankofamerica, .zillow and .zoom. Major tech firms want branded endings too: Meta filed for .facebook, .instagram, .messenger, .meta, .frommeta and .threads; Bluesky applied for .bsky; OpenAI requested .chatgpt, .codex, .openai and .gpt; and Anthropic applied for .anthropic and .claude. Although some alternative TLDs have gained traction in recent years — .ai and .app among them — most internet users still default to established endings like .com. The current set of applications is an early step in ICANN’s review process; none of the proposed domains will become official until the organization completes its evaluation, which is expected to stretch into next year. The filings nonetheless demonstrate that companies see value in owning recognizable and category-defining domain names as online identities and product destinations evolve.
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