X.ai and xai.com domain names, which is better?

Recently, a highly debated topic has sparked lively discussions on Zhihu: "Which is better, the domain 'x.ai' or 'xai.com'?" The 'x.ai' domain was acquired by Musk for $1.5 million and was announced to be in use on July 12th, primarily for exploring the cosmos. While this question may seem to revolve around the choice between the '.ai' suffix and the '.com' suffix, it is, in fact, related to future development trends. Let's delve into this representative issue.

User 1: x.ai is better

For Max's x.ai company, 'x.ai' is undoubtedly the better choice. After all, it's a single-letter domain, and it is dedicated to artificial intelligence projects. Additionally, Max also acquired 'ai.com' and redirects it to 'x.ai.' For a reputable AI company, this is the optimal approach.

User 2: xai.com is better

In China, many people are not familiar with the '.ai' suffix. Furthermore, '.ai' domains are currently not indexed by many search engines, which is not conducive to optimization.

Moreover, by choosing 'xai.com,' you will enjoy more distinct advantages, making website promotion easier and gaining higher public recognition. If your project is not related to artificial intelligence and considering Chinese input habits, 'xai.com' seems to be the preferred choice.

User 3: Neither is better

.com domains are associated with commercial purposes, while '.ai' domains are a bit more personalized. For example, '.gov' is exclusive to government departments, and '.ai' domains are suitable for projects related to artificial intelligence. Compared to '.com,' they tend to be more niche. If you're working on AI-related projects, 'x.ai' is recommended.

However, there's a problem with '.ai' domains - domain registrars in China do not support '.ai' domain registration. To obtain an '.ai' domain, you need to purchase it from registrars that support '.ai' domains, like GoDaddy. The annual renewal cost for '.com' domains can range from tens to hundreds of dollars, while '.ai' domains currently cost several hundred or even over a thousand dollars.

User 4: Both are good

Both 'x.ai' and 'xai.com' domains are excellent choices. One is a single-letter 'ai' domain, and the other is a rare three-letter '.com' domain. Those with the means can consider acquiring both. For instance, OpenAI uses 'openai.com,' while CharacterAI employs 'character.ai.'

In summary, for AI projects, '.ai' domains are the preferred choice, while for general domains, '.com' is the way to go. The choice should be based on the specific project's requirements. What are your thoughts?