https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/6/24289768/openai-chat-chatgpt-sam-altman-hubspot

Skip to main content
 The Verge logo.The Verge homepage

  * The Verge homepageThe Verge logo./
  * Tech/
  * Reviews/
  * Science/
  * Entertainment/
  * AI/
  * MoreMenu

 The Verge logo.
Menu

  * OpenAI/
  * Artificial Intelligence/
  * Tech

Did OpenAI just spend more than $10 million on a URL?

Did OpenAI just spend more than $10 million on a URL?

/

Chat.com now redirects to ChatGPT.

By Kylie Robison, a senior AI reporter working with The Verge's
policy and tech teams. She previously worked at Fortune Magazine and
Business Insider.

Nov 6, 2024, 8:22 PM UTC

Share this story

  * 
  * 
  * 

An image of OpenAI's logo, which looks like a stylized and
symmetrical braid.
Image: OpenAI

On Wednesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman posted a simple URL on X:
chat.com. It automatically routes to ChatGPT.

Previously, the domain was owned by Dharmesh Shah, the founder and
CTO of HubSpot. In early 2023, Shah purchased chat.com for $15.5
million. However, just a few months later, he announced that he had
sold the domain, though he wouldn't disclose the details of the sale
or the buyer. Notably, he did confirm that he sold the domain for
more than he had originally paid for it.

"The reason I bought chat.com is simple: I think Chat-based UX (#
ChatUX) is the next big thing in software. Communicating with
computers/software through a natural language interface is much more
intuitive. This is made possible by Generative A.I," Shah wrote in a
LinkedIn post announcing the purchase, which chat.com briefly
redirected to before he resold it.

After the publication of this article, Shah confirmed in a post on X
that OpenAI did purchase the domain from him and implied that the
startup paid him in shares instead of cash.

The drop of "GPT" from the chat.com domain aligns with OpenAI's
recent rebranding efforts.

In September, the company announced a new series of reasoning models
starting with "o1." At the time, former chief research officer Bob
McGrew told The Verge he hoped that the o1 series would mark "the
first step of newer, more sane names" to better communicate the
company's work.

People hoarding "vanity domains" is a tale as old as the Internet
itself. Just a few months ago, AI startup Friend spent $1.8 million
on the domain friend.com after raising $2.5 million in funding.
Having just raised $6.6 billion, OpenAI dropping more than $10
million --in cash or stock -- is just a drop in the bucket.

Update, November 6, 2024: Added Shah's confirmation of the domain
sale.

Most Popular
Most Popular

 1. NYT tech workers are making their own games while on strike

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 2. Did OpenAI just spend more than $10 million on a URL?

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 3. Nintendo's next generation is off to a great start

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 4. Apple Mac Mini M4 review: a tiny wonder

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
 5. PS5 Pro review: how close is your TV?

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

Verge Deals

/ Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent
to your inbox weekly.

Email (required)[                    ]Sign up
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
From our sponsor

 

 
Advertiser Content FromSponsor logo
Sponsor thumbnail

More from Artificial Intelligence

  * Illustration of Microsoft's Windows logoIllustration of
    Microsoft's Windows logo

    Even Microsoft Notepad is getting AI text editing now

  * An illustration of the Apple logo.An illustration of the Apple
    logo.

    Apple's iOS 18.2 public beta starts opening up access to more AI
    features

  * A photo of the original Amazon Echo, on a Vergecast background.A
    photo of the original Amazon Echo, on a Vergecast background.

    Alexa at 10: Amazon's assistant is a winner and a failure

  * Photo of a hand holding iPhone with new Siri and ChatGPT.Photo of
    a hand holding iPhone with new Siri and ChatGPT.

    Apple will let you upgrade to ChatGPT Plus right from Settings in
    iOS 18.2

  * 
     
    Advertiser Content FromSponsor logo

     

 The Verge logo.

  * Cookie Settings
  * Terms of Use
  * Privacy Notice
  * Cookie Policy
  * Licensing FAQ
  * Accessibility
  * Platform Status
  * How We Rate and Review Products

  * Contact
  * Tip Us
  * Community Guidelines
  * About
  * Ethics Statement

The Verge is a vox media network

  * Advertise with us
  * Jobs @ Vox Media

(c) 2024 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved