How Anguilla’s .ai Domain is Funding its Future
From airport upgrades to sports facilities, this Caribbean island is turning domain dollars into real-world infrastructure
Whatsup Squad,
The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, but AI didn’t become popular until ChatGPT, the popular chatbot from OpenAI.
Since then, the number of .ai internet addresses registered has soared, generating a windfall for Anguilla.
Revenue from .ai domains now represents a record 20% of Anguilla’s annual revenue, and that percentage is growing.
How Anguilla Got “.ai”
The first generic top-level domains like .com and .org—along with the first country codes like .us and .uk—were introduced in 1985.
Almost a decade later, the .ai extension was assigned to the small Caribbean island of Anguilla.
Every time someone registered a .ai URL, Anguilla earned $140 (with renewals every two years).
Until recently, the island of 35 square miles and a population of 16,000 paid little attention to its .ai domain designation.
Like most Caribbean countries, Anguilla earns the majority of its revenue from tourism.
But this tourism dependence makes its economy particularly vulnerable.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma wiped out approximately 90% of Anguilla’s GDP.
Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic effectively crashed the travel sector. By the time the worst of the pandemic passed in 2021, Anguilla faced a budget shortfall of $100 million.
ChatGPT Ignites a Gold Rush
ChatGPT debuted in November 2022, and it was divine timing for Anguilla.
ChatGPT reached 100 million monthly active users just two months after launch, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history.
Its launch took AI to the mainstream and kicked off a digital gold rush as companies scrambled to stake their own claims by acquiring websites that end in .ai.
Google uses google.ai to showcase its artificial intelligence services.
Since the launch of ChatGPT, registrations of .ai domain names have skyrocketed.
In July 2018, there were only 50,000 registered .ai domains.
As of January 2025, there are over 600,000 registered .ai domains on the Internet.
That is still nothing compared to the over 150 million .coms on the Internet. That means more great names with .ai are still available, and there is still plenty of room for growth.
From .AI Dollars to Sports Development
In 2023 alone, this surge in .ai domain registrations generated approximately $32 million in revenue for Anguilla.
That represented over 20% of the government's total revenue for the year. Before the AI boom, it hovered at about 5%.
In 2024, .ai domain registrations are estimated to exceed $37 million.
The Government of Anguilla predicts that this industry will continue to grow over the next three years, with projections of $54 million in 2027.
The money will finance major expenditure projects like the development of the airport, a cornerstone in boosting the country’s connectivity and economic resilience.
The $175 million project includes a new multimillion-dollar terminal as well as expansion of the runway and apron.
How Sports Fit In
The income also provides budget support for other projects the government is eyeing.
Advancing youth development through investment in sporting infrastructure and programs is one of the Government of Anguilla’s key priority areas.
Last year, the Anguilla Football Association (AFA) inaugurated the island's first artificial turf pitch at its headquarters.
While the project was funded by a FIFA Forward grant, its establishment highlights Anguilla’s need for improved infrastructure.
“The biggest issue we have in Anguilla is a lack of facilities. We were competing for training grounds, competing for training times, and competing to manage competitions.”
- Girdon Connor, President of the AFA
Additional development projects underway include a modern basketball court in Blowing Point and the development of a technically advanced Track & Field facility in The Valley.
Potential with .vc and .ag
While Anguilla is the big winner for the AI boom, there are other Caribbean countries that hold valuable domains that could generate substantial revenue for their economies.
.vc is the top level domain for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but it is also used for venture capital firms.
.ag is the top level domain for Antigua and Barbuda, but it is also commonly used in relation to agriculture.
These categories may not be as profitable as .ai, but savvy marketing could translate into increased recurring revenue for their treasuries.
Final Thoughts
Anguilla’s .ai domain windfall is a real-world playbook for how digital real estate can both diversify revenue streams and finance development projects.
Every time a company buys a .ai web address, Anguilla’s economy wins.
And every time a .ag domain is purchased, Antigua and Barbuda is poised to benefit.
Until next time ✌🏾
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