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Ask HN: Why is ai.com redirecting to x.ai

19 points by javierluraschi ↗ HN
ai.com used to redirect to chat.openai.com but now redirects to x.ai, what happened?

17 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 41.4 ms ] thread
cratermoon
Elon Musk Creates New Artificial Intelligence Company X.ai <https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35575754>
javierluraschi
I'm not asking about the company but rather the URL, ai.com used to be pointing to OpenAi now it points to Elon's x.ai company, why?
minimaxir
Presumably Elon Musk bought control of the domain.
javierluraschi
Why would OpenAI sell that domain?
fragmede
Musk was a founder of OpenAI and while he doesn't have an ownership stake anymore, he likely still has some power within their halls.
javierluraschi
Not sure if he has that much leverage... maybe he agreed to sell to OpenAI access to Twitter/X data only if the domain was part of that deal?
orionblastar
OpenAI no longer needs the domain now that Microsoft bought them out.
quickthrower2
ai.com is not a great name. it is almost like computer.com. it is brandless
cratermoon
Sam Altman is a bit richer now, and Elon's fortune is a bit lighter.
javierluraschi
Here is a reference but not much information about what happened nor why: https://analyticsindiamag.com/musk-buys-ai-com-from-openai/
brianjking
I'm highly sus of this. As far as I recall OpenAI never actually wrote that they purchased ai.com.

What I believe is far more likely is that Musk bought or owned ai.com and played a smart move (for once) by having it direct to ChatGPT, only to switch it out to X's site now.

explain
Seems like it was always speculation that OpenAI had bought the domain.

The real owner of AI.com probably never changed, and is still looking for a buyer.

A lot of people had gotten used to accessing ChatGPT via ai.com, so this was ultimately a good move for the seller.

brianjking
I think it was 100% speculation. My guess is that Musk owned it previously or bought it, had everyone get used to it directing to ChatGPT, only to rugpull once the xAI site was up.

Either way, if this is right, this is a smart move by Musk if I am in fact right and I also hate it.

theRealMe
I hate it, but this is a good move by Musk(if intentional). I learned more about x.ai than I cared to just during my confusion when I typed “ai.com” and this came up. It’s like advertising that’s targeted directly to people that care about AI and because of the initial confusion it caused me to investigate the ad rather than block it out like I do with all other ads.