.ai domain lifecycle

.ai is the Anguilla ccTLD that has become the de facto TLD for AI startups since the 2023 LLM boom. Registration volume tripled between 2022 and 2025. The Anguillan government registry has reported the TLD now generates a non-trivial fraction of national budget revenue.

Unlike most ccTLDs, .ai requires a minimum 2-year initial registration. Annual renewal pricing is typically $70-$110 — among the most expensive mainstream extensions. Premium short and dictionary names trade at .com-comparable prices on the resale market.

The registry is owned by the Government of Anguilla, with technical operations historically run by a private operator (Vince Cate) and more recent back-end partnerships with industry players. This gives .ai a different operational rhythm than typical gTLDs — RDAP is partial, drop schedules are less predictable, and policy changes follow Anguilla's timeline.

Lifecycle phases are modeled on the standard gTLD pattern but can vary. The redemption window is typically 30 days but the registry has authority to adjust.

Best fit: AI companies, AI-related products, technical brands explicitly positioning around AI.

• Minimum 2-year initial registration; renewals are 1-year increments.
• Pricing is among the highest of any mainstream TLD ($70-$110/yr retail).
• Government-owned ccTLD; policies can change with less industry consultation than gTLDs.
• RDAP support is partial; WHOIS is the more reliable lookup method.

• Highly competitive for short/dictionary names — premium AI-related .ai names sell for five and six figures.
• Drop schedule is less predictable than .com or .io. Daily polling is recommended.
• Expect significantly higher redemption fees than gTLDs.

• .io lifecycleApproximately 80 days from expiry to drop
• .app lifecycleApproximately 80 days from expiry to drop
• .dev lifecycleApproximately 80 days from expiry to drop
• .tech lifecycleApproximately 80 days from expiry to drop

• Anguilla NIC