AI domains and applications worldwide

By Dennis Landman

The .AI domain extension, originally assigned as the country code for Anguilla, has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years:

• 2022: Registrations increased by 50% year-over-year

• 2023: Growth surged to 230%

• 2024: Explosive growth of 300%

• 2025: Nearly 600,000 registered .AI domains as of Q1 2025, representing a tenfold increase since November 2022 Forbes

Regional Distribution of .AI Domains

According to data collected in 2023, the geographical distribution of .AI domain registrations shows:

• North America: 62.5% of registered .AI domains

• Asia: 18.8%

• Europe: 17.2%

• Other regions: 1.5% IONOS Blog

Notable .AI Domain Sales

Several high-profile .AI domain sales have occurred in recent years:

• you.ai: Sold for $700,000

• npc.ai: Sold for $250,000

• girlfriend.ai: Sold twice in 2024, utilized for an AI-driven companionship startup

• ace.ai: Acquired for a next-generation AI-first browser Forbes

Key Drivers of .AI Domain Growth

• Launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, which sparked widespread interest in AI domains

• Increased VC funding for AI startups (80% year-on-year growth between 2023-2024)

• Brand positioning, as .AI domains are perceived as symbols of innovation and industry leadership

• Affordable alternative to traditional .COM domains while maintaining strong brand value

• Growing market demand fueled by integration of AI in business and consumer applications Forbes

Top AI Applications Worldwide

Most Popular AI Apps Globally (January 2025)

According to monthly active user data, the leading AI applications globally are:

• ChatGPT (OpenAI, USA), 349.41 million monthly active users

• Doubao (ByteDance, China), 78.61 million

• Nova (HubX, Turkey), 56.6 million

• DeepSeek (DeepSeek, China), 33.7 million

• Talkie AI (SubSup, Singapore), 32.8 million

• Remini (Bending Spoons, Italy), 31.77 million

• ChatOn (AIBY, USA), 29.1 million

• Character AI (Character Technologies, USA), 28.75 million

• Ask AI (Ai Search, USA), 28.35 million

• Chatbot App (HubX, Turkey), 25.65 million Backlinko

Top AI Tools by Website Visits (2024)

• ChatGPT, 3.0 billion monthly website visits from over 180 million users

• Canva, AI-powered graphic design tool

• Google Gemini, Google’s multimodal AI model

• DeepL, Advanced translation service

• Character AI, Conversational AI platform

• Remove.bg, AI background removal tool

• QuillBot, AI writing assistant

• Grammarly, AI writing enhancement

• JanitorAI, AI utility tool

• Perplexity AI, Conversational search engine Exploding Topics

Emerging AI Tools to Watch

• Perplexity AI, Chat-based search engine with 9,200% 5-year search growth

• Claude (Anthropic), Conversational AI with 7,000% 5-year growth

• Google Gemini, Multimodal AI model competing with ChatGPT

• Microsoft Copilot, AI productivity suite leveraging GPT-4 and DALL-E 3

• ElevenLabs, Leading in AI speech synthesis and voice cloning

• DeepAI, Collection of tools for image, video, and music generation Exploding Topics

Regional AI Developments

United States

• GoDaddy Airo™, An AI-powered solution included with domain purchases that helps users instantly build websites and logos

• AI Domain Genius (Deepgram), AI-powered domain name generator released in January 2025

• Top AI Application Testing Companies in 2025 include specialized firms offering cutting-edge tools for testing AI/ML applications

China

• DeepSeek, Topped App Store charts in early 2025, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads

• Zhipu AI, Launched a free AI agent in March 2025, intensifying competition in the domestic tech race

• Baidu, Released two new AI models in March 2025, including a reasoning-focused model

• Doubao, ByteDance’s AI assistant that has become one of the dominant AI portals in China

Europe

• European AI market valued at nearly €60 billion in 2025

• InvestAI initiative launched by the European Commission to mobilize €200 billion for AI investment

• Organizations increasing AI investment with one-third of respondents planning to start more than 20 AI pilots in 2025

• Focus on responsible and sustainable AI as part of Europe’s economic reboot strategy for 2025

Japan

• CyberSmart AI, New program launched by Microsoft in March 2025 to support skills development in AI and cybersecurity

• Preferred Networks, Japan’s leading AI unicorn focusing on real-world applications of deep learning

• Rakuten, Unveiled new AI models optimized for Japanese language, to be released to the open-source community by Spring 2025

UAE

• Abu Dhabi’s 2025-2027 Digital Strategy, Plans to become the world’s first fully AI-integrated digital government

• AI projects and investments overseen by the Artificial Intelligence & Digital Economy Council (AIATC)

• Substantial investments in AI infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing through US partnerships

Trending AI Categories and Applications

Conversational AI and Chatbots

Growing rapidly with platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity AI, and Poe leading the way.

Creative Design and Content Generation

Tools like Canva and CapCut are dominating in graphic and video editing spaces.

Language and Translation Tools

Services like DeepL continue to innovate with natural, context-aware translations.

Voice and Speech Synthesis

Companies like ElevenLabs are experiencing significant growth in AI-assisted speech tools.

AI-Enhanced Productivity Tools

Microsoft Copilot and similar tools are leveraging advanced AI to improve workplace efficiency.

Conclusion

The AI landscape in 2025 shows explosive growth in both domain registrations and application development. The .AI domain extension has firmly established itself as a symbol of innovation and forward-thinking, with registrations increasing tenfold since 2022. Companies across the globe are investing heavily in AI technology, with the United States, China, and Europe leading in development and adoption.

As we progress through 2025, we can expect continued innovation in multimodal AI, AI agents with greater autonomy, and more specialized AI tools designed for specific industry applications. The rapid evolution of both AI domains and applications represents one of the most significant technological and economic trends of the decade.