From .AI to .com: The quiet domain rebrand sweeping startup ecosystem

When generative AI took off in 2022 following the popularity of ChatGPT, launching a startup on a .ai domain felt like the obvious move. It signaled your company was part of the next wave of innovation. It instantly signaled to investors, journalists, and users that you were building in AI.

Now, a shift is happening. Some of the most promising startups in AI are quietly moving away from their .ai domains and switching to .com. It’s not about trend-chasing—it’s about positioning.

This isn’t a flood, but it’s enough to raise eyebrows. And it says something about how branding, trust, and long-term ambition play a bigger role in how startups choose to present themselves.

Why Startups Went With .AI Domains

In the early days, .ai domains were easy to get and made a lot of sense. Short .coms are hard to come by and often expensive. A .ai extension instantly told people what kind of tech you were building.

It didn’t hurt that the hype around AI meant the .ai suffix became a badge of honor—something that gave young startups credibility out of the gate.

But credibility doesn’t always scale. And once you’re no longer pitching investors but trying to win over enterprise customers or mass-market users, the calculations shift.

Why Startups Are Switching From .AI to .com Domains

In the early days, picking a .ai domain made a lot of sense. It was easier to secure than a short .com, which is often expensive or already taken. And with AI grabbing headlines, the .ai extension became more than just a domain—it was a signal. It told investors, users, and the press that you were building something on the edge of innovation.

That signal carried weight, especially for early-stage startups. The .ai suffix added a layer of credibility right out of the gate.

But what works at launch doesn’t always scale. As startups grow and shift their focus from raising capital to landing enterprise customers or appealing to mainstream users, the calculation changes.

For many, that’s when the move to a .com begins to make sense. The .ai domain can start to feel limiting—too tied to a single category or phase. A .com offers a broader appeal. It’s familiar, trusted, and performs better in areas like SEO and email deliverability. For startups growing into more serious players, switching to .com is often part of leveling up their brand.

Startups Moving from .AI to .com Domains

Startups that once leaned into the AI hype with .ai domains are beginning to rethink their branding. As these companies grow and aim for wider market appeal, many are making the switch to .com. It’s not just a domain change — it’s a strategic move tied to trust, visibility, and long-term positioning.

Confirmed Startup Domain Rebrands

Here are six startups that have moved from .ai to .com, each signaling that they’re aiming beyond early-stage positioning:

The Pickle Example: Switching From GetPickle.AI to Pickle.com

Pickle is one of the clearest examples of this shift. The company started with GetPickle.ai and developed a tool that lets users train their digital double to speak on their behalf in real-time video meetings. With just a 0.3-second delay, it’s been a hit with remote teams.

Backed by Y Combinator, NFX, and Krew Capital, the startup has already crossed 1,000 paid users. Now it’s moved to Pickle.com, acquiring the domain in a private deal from its original owner.

“This pre-seed investment enables us to address various challenges in video conferencing and develop clones that can even articulate personal thoughts, aiming to expand human communication a hundredfold,” said Daniel Park, CEO of Pickle.

By dropping the “Get” and going with a cleaner, more memorable .com, Pickle is showing it’s not just another AI experiment—it’s building a real brand.

Who’s Still Using .AI Domains

Not everyone is ready to give up their .ai domain. For some, it still works. Perplexity.ai, Stability.ai, and Character.ai are examples of companies that have embraced their AI-first identity and stuck with it.

Their domains help them stand out in a crowded space and reinforce what they’re all about. For these brands, .ai isn’t a limitation—it’s a core part of their identity.

Some Use Both

Other startups are playing both sides. They secure both domains and use them strategically. xAI, for instance, uses x.ai for the company and grok.com for its chatbot. This way, they can stay aligned with their AI roots while signaling product-level polish with a .com.

It’s a smart way to protect brand equity while staying flexible.

What Founders Should Watch

If you’re building an AI startup, your domain is one of the first things people see. It’s part of your brand signal. Early on, .ai might work just fine—and in some cases, it’s still the better option. But as you grow, think about whether your domain still fits the story you want to tell.

Premium .com domains aren’t cheap. But if you’re thinking long-term, they may be worth the investment. Especially if you plan to go beyond the AI label.

Final Thought

Startups like Pickle, Scale, and Modular are showing that this isn’t just about domains. It’s about identity. They’re not abandoning AI—they’re just refusing to be boxed in by it. And the .com rebrand is the quiet way they’re saying: we’re here to build something bigger.