From .ai to .com: Quiet Domain Rebranded Sweep Startup Ecosystem

Following the popularity of ChatGPT, when Generator AI took off in 2022, it felt like an obvious move when it launched a startup in the .AI domain. It shows that your company is part of the next wave of innovation. It immediately signalled investors, journalists and users that they were building with AI.

There’s a shift happening now. Some of the most promising startups in AI have quietly moved from the .ai domain and switched to .com. It’s about positioning, not chasing trends.

This is not a flood, but it’s enough to raise your eyebrows. And it says something about how branding, trust and long-term ambitions play a big role in how startups choose to present themselves.

Why the startup used the .ai domain

In the early days, the .ai domain was easy to get and made a lot of sense. Short.com is difficult to get and often expensive. The .ai extension quickly told people what technology you were building.

The hype around AI didn’t hurt that .ai suffix meant it became a badge of honor.

However, reliability does not always increase. And if you don’t sell investors, but try to beat enterprise customers or mass market users, the calculations change.

Why Startups Switch to the .ai Domain

In the early days, choosing the .ai domain made a lot of sense. It was easier to protect it safely than short.com. Also, with AI grabbing headlines, .ai extensions have become more than just a domain. This was a signal. We told investors, users and the press that you’re building something on the edge of innovation.

That signal carried weight, especially for early stage startups. .ai suffix added a layer of reliability immediately from the gate.

However, what works at launch is not always expanding. The calculations change as startups grow and focus on landings of corporate customers from raising capital to mainstream users.

For many, that’s when moving to .com makes sense. The .ai domain begins to feel the limitations tied to a single category or phase. .com offers a wider appeal. It’s familiar, trusted and improved performance in areas such as SEO and email delivery possibilities. For startups that are growing into more serious players, switching to .com is often part of a brand leveling up.

Startups to move from .ai to the .com domain

Once leaning against AI hype in the .AI domain, startups are beginning to rethink their brand. As these companies grow and aim to attract a wider market, many have switched to .com. It’s not just a domain change, it’s a strategic move related to trust, visibility and long-term positioning.

Verified startup domain brands

There are six startups that have been moved from .ai to .com. It signals that each is aiming beyond initial positioning.

Startup Original Domain New Domain Notes Scale.ai Scale.com We provide enterprise services to AI training data companies. Modular Modular.ai Modular.com was switched as the platform matured and expanded its developer base. Runway Runway.ai Runwayml.com has been updated to better reflect the focus of machine learning. Pymetrics Pymetrics.ai Pymetrics.com changed its domain as it moved deeper into the HR Enterprise market. Pickle getpickle.ai pickle.com has been rebranded after gaining traction with video avatars and live sync. MentessaMentessa.aimentessa.com has shifted branding to support a wide range of talent and mentorship use cases.

Pickle Example: Switching from getpickle.ai to pickle.com

Pickles is one of the clearest examples of this shift. The company started with getpickle.ai and developed a tool that allows users to train digital doubles to speak for themselves in real-time video conferencing. It was a hit with the remote team due to just 0.3 seconds of delay.

Supported by Y Combinator, NFX and Krew Capital, the startup has already surpassed 1,000 paid users. Currently, I’m redirected to Pickle.com and get my domain from my original owner in a private transaction.

“This pre-seed investment will allow us to develop clones that can even clarify personal thoughts, addressing the various challenges of video conferencing and extending human communication by 100 times,” said Daniel Park, CEO of Pickle.

By dropping “get” and going on a cleaner, memorable .com, Pickles shows that it’s not just another AI experiment, it’s building a real brand.

Who is still using the .ai domain?

Not everyone is ready to give up on their domain. For some, it still works. perplexity.ai, stability.ai, and chariture.ai are examples of companies that embrace and stick to AI first identity.

Their domain helps them stand out in crowded spaces and reinforces what they are. For these brands, .ai is not a limit. It is the core part of their identity.

I’m confused about the startup domain reasons. Stability AI stability. AI emphasizes leadership in open source AI development. Character AI Character.ai emphasizes consumer focus and conversational AI tools. Hume Hume.ai connects with emotionally driven AI tools. Reka Reka.ai maintains brand continuity in the early stages.

Some use both

Other startups play both. Secure both domains and use them strategically. For example, Xai uses X.AI for his company and Grok.com for his chatbot. This way, they can remain consistent with their AI roots whilst signaling product-level polishes at .com.

This is a sensible way to protect your brand equity while still being flexible.

What founders should see

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

Premium.com domains are not cheap. But if you’re thinking long term, they may be worth the investment. Especially if you plan to exceed the AI ​​label.

Final thoughts

Startups like pickles, scales, modular and more show that this isn’t just a domain. It’s about identity. They are not abandoning AI. They are simply refusing to be boxed by it. And rebranding .com is the quiet way they say.