OpenAI Bought the Oldest Domain Name from an Indian Entrepreneur

OpenAI is a popular AI Interface founded in December 2015. After the launch of ChatGPT.  Now, the trending news is that OpenAI purchased one of the internet's oldest domain names, originally registered back in 1996, from an Indian. Dharmesh Shah, the Indian-origin co-founder and CTO of HubSpot, sold this domain name, chat.com, to OpenAI for over $15 million, which is approximately Rs 126 Crore.

Starting from Nov 7th, anyone searching Chat.com will be redirected straight to ChatGPT. As we all know, ChatGPT is an integral part of everyone's life today. The deal of this premium URL indicates a significant moment in the tech world. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, confirmed that Chat.com now redirects to ChatGPT.

To put it into perspective, Chat Dot Com was first registered in 1996. It is one of the oldest domains around. Interestingly, Dharmesh Shah bought it last year, investing around 15.5 million USD. When converted to Indian rupees, it's about Rs 130 crore.

The Background of Chat.com

Dharmesh Shah initially purchased chat.com in early 2023 for $15.5 million. That was a great bold move, after bought this domain name he quickly resold it. He didn't disclose the identity of the buyer or the final sale price at that time. But that was an extraordinarily powered move, However. He mentioned, that he sold the domain for more than what he paid for it, making this one of his most profitable deals in the domain trading space.

Shah wrote like this on LinkedIn when he first announced the purchase. “The reason I bought chat.com is simple: I believe Chat-based UX (#ChatUX) is the next big thing in software. Interacting with computers through natural language is more intuitive, made possible by Generative AI,” 

OpenAI hasn't disclosed the exact amount paid for this domain. Shah sold Chat.com to OpenAI accepting a mix of shares and cash as a part of this deal. Now OpenAI is to acquire a highly relevant and memorable domain name that aligns well with its ChatGPT platform.

This purchasing highlights both Shah's forward-thinking investment in AI space and strategic move to boost its brand identity with a simple, user-friendly URL. Simultaneously, OpenAI has introduced a new feature ChatGPT's 'memory' capability. While the 'memory' function allows ChatGPT to recall information, the search tool will help users quickly locate specific conversations without the struggle of endless scrolling. This search feature simplifies the process of retrieving information.

Impact on User Experience

By purchasing a simple and memorable URL, OpenAI has made it easier for users to access ChatGPT globally. The new domain name is easy to remember, which means users can search for shortened URLs with accurate results. which saves time and improves accessibility.

This change reflects OpenAI’s commitment to an effective user experience. Depending on our daily life ChatGPT has high priority. Easy access makes more people to engaging and more usage of this technology.

Conclusion