'.ai' websites are booming - and making millions for this tiny Caribbean nation

Date:
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:30:00 +0000

Description:
Google, x.ai, Perplexity and other AI startups are all helping to fund critical infrastructure upgrades in Anguilla.

FULL STORY ======================================================================'.ai' domain registrations are up 3x in three years, revenue is up 2x The top-level domain (TLD) is unique to the Caribbean island of Anguilla Anguilla plans to spend the revenue on critical infrastructure and sustainable projects

More than a million '.ai' domains have now been registered as of early
January 2026, largely driven by the ChatGPT-induced global AI boom, and it's proving to be quite the money maker for Anguilla, a new report has found.

Research from Sherwood found the small British Overseas Territory has control over the '.ai' domain as its country code, which it has now turned into a major revenue stream worth an estimated $70 million per year, or the equivalent of around 20-22% of the government's total revenue.

Compared with 2023, the number of '.ai' domain registrations has near tripled from 354,000, with revenue more than doubling from an estimated $32 million. Anguilla is benefitting from the AI boom, but in a different way

At present, around 37% of the Caribbean islands revenue comes from tourism, marking a considerable reliance on international travel a factor that was heavily affected by COVID. However, this additional revenue worth around a fifth of the governments income serves as an important extra to bolster finances.

The average .ai domain costs $140 per year, but the most staggering figure is the domains 90% renewal rate, indicative of long-term stability for Anguilla on this front.

And its not just AI startups that are paying for Anguillas domains Google, x.ai and Perplexity are also cashing in on the brand-boosting trend.

The International Monetary Fund noted that Anguilla isnt the only Small
Island Developing State to have benefitted from its uniquely positioned
domain ownership. Tuvalu previously saw a rise in the 1990s for its .tv domain.

IMF noted that Anguilla plans to invest its domain-related cash in long-term sustainable projects, such as renewable energy. Key infrastructure like its airport could also benefit from this strike of pure luck.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/ai-websites-are-booming-and-making-millions-for- this-tiny-caribbean-nation


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