.AI Domain Names - Global Domain Names Report 2024 - A Game Changer!

Recently, Massachusetts-based Cambridge-InterNetX and Sedo released the 2024 Global Domain Report, which segments the domain industry and examines anticipated trends and changes for the coming year, with a focus on technological advancements and the evolution of artificial intelligence and its impact on the internet.

The report claims that the influence of artificial intelligence on the domain industry and its integration with digital platforms are changing the game, with a growth of 162% in just one year.

This 80-page report, available for free download (a brief summary will be provided in this article), points out that in 2023, 359.8 million new domain names were registered, with the overall registration volume remaining stable but at a high level, representing a 2.5% year-on-year increase compared to last year.

1. Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs):

Despite the recent creation of numerous new domain suffixes, historic gTLDs such as .com (159.6 million), .net (13.1 million), and .org (10.8 million) remain the most registered and used domains, with a leading position in the industry. Last year, many new gTLDs joined the aforementioned old-school gTLDs, such as .xyz, .cfd, .app, and .click, many of which target very specific niche audiences; however, the report notes that many new gTLDs often redirect to their .com parent instead of having their own unique website. Nonetheless, this new area of gTLDs saw a 14.7% year-on-year growth and is expected to continue growing in 2024.

2. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs):

ccTLDs (internet top-level domains typically used or reserved for countries, sovereign states, or dependent territories) saw a rise in 2023, with domains like .cn (China), .ru (Russia), and numerous European domains (comprising half of the top 20 ranked ccTLDs globally) experiencing significant growth over the past year. The importance and usage of these domains are expected to continue growing in the coming year.

3. Increasing Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Domain Industry

The report claims that the increasing impact of artificial intelligence on the domain industry and its integration with digital platforms is driving a game-changing development, with a 162% increase in AI usage from 2022 to 2023. Not surprisingly, this development has led to .ai becoming one of the most popular top-level domains (TLDs) today, with a staggering 256% year-on-year growth in registrations and usage.

Unlike some of the aforementioned new, highly specific gTLDs, more and more .ai domains (currently comprising 45% and still growing) actually point to fully unique standalone websites rather than placeholders or .com redirects.

As the domain industry progresses further into 2024, the report predicts that traditional and innovative approaches will advance side by side, resulting in a gradual transformation where gTLDs will continue to evolve, ccTLDs will become increasingly important, and artificial intelligence will further integrate into the landscape.