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How the AI Boom is a Windfall for Tiny Anguilla

Jan 30, 2024 - spectrum.ieee.org
The article discusses how the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has benefited the small Caribbean island of Anguilla, which was assigned the .ai domain by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) in the late 1980s. Vince Cate, a software developer who manages domain registrations for the Anguillan government, explains that the .ai domain has become a significant source of income for the country, with sales increasing fourfold after the release of ChatGPT in November 2022.

Cate contrasts Anguilla's approach to domain management with that of Tuvalu, which outsourced its .tv domain to a foreign company. In contrast, Anguilla manages its domain locally, ensuring that the majority of the income stays within the country. Currently, .ai domain registrations bring in about $3 million per month, which is expected to double when renewals start. This income has allowed the government to pay down debt and eliminate property taxes on residential buildings.

Key takeaways:

  • Vince Cate, a software developer and founder of DataHaven.Net, manages the .ai domain registrations for the Anguillan government.
  • The .ai domain was initially marketed towards Chinese websites as 'ài' means love in Chinese, but Cate believed the artificial intelligence market would be more profitable.
  • The surge in AI interest has significantly increased the number of .ai domains being registered, contributing to about a third of the government's budget.
  • The .ai domain registrations bring in about US $3 million per month, and this revenue has allowed the government to pay down some of its debt and eliminate property taxes on residential buildings.
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