AI QUIRKS
Anguilla just hit the .ai jackpot
Back in the 1980s, Anguilla, a small British island in the Caribbean, was assigned the .ai web domain. It didn’t mean much then, but with the AI boom, it’s become a major source of income.
There are now 850,000+ .ai domains registered, up from fewer than 50,000 in 2020.
Basic registrations cost around $150–$200, but premium names sell for much more.
HubSpot CTO, Dharmesh Shah, bought you.ai for $700,000, while cloud.ai sold for $600,000 and law.ai for $350,000.
For an island of just 16,000 people, the impact is huge.
In 2024, Anguilla earned $39m (£29m) from .ai registrations, about 23% of its total income.
Tourism brings in around 37% - but is highly vulnerable to hurricanes, so .ai revenues are helping stabilise the economy.
Here’s what you should know
850k+ .ai domains registered, with top names selling for hundreds of thousands.
$39m earned in 2024, making up 23% of Anguilla’s income.
Money is funding healthcare, infrastructure, and a new airport to support growth.
Here comes the moneeeey 💸
To handle demand, Anguilla partnered with Identity Digital, a US company now managing registrations and hosting domains on a global network.
This protects services from local disruptions like storms and power cuts.
The government plans to use the income for healthcare, infrastructure, and a new airport to support tourism.
By 2026, .ai revenue is expected to reach $49m, giving Anguilla a stronger and more secure financial future.
Anguilla didn’t choose the AI life; the AI life chose Anguilla.