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    [Not really conspiracy related, but I thought it was neat.  ;)  -- Mike]   
      
   '.ai' websites are booming - and making millions for this tiny Caribbean   
   nation   
      
   Date:   
   Mon, 26 Jan 2026 21:30:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   Google, x.ai, Perplexity and other AI startups are all helping to fund   
   critical infrastructure upgrades in Anguilla.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   More than a million '.ai' domains have now been registered as of early    
   January 2026, largely driven by the ChatGPT-induced global AI boom, and it's   
   proving to be quite the money maker for Anguilla, a new report has found.    
      
   Research from Sherwood found the small British Overseas Territory has control   
   over the '.ai' domain as its country code, which it has now turned into a   
   major revenue stream worth an estimated $70 million per year, or the   
   equivalent of around 20-22% of the government's total revenue.    
      
   Compared with 2023, the number of '.ai' domain registrations has near tripled   
   from 354,000, with revenue more than doubling from an estimated $32 million.   
   Anguilla is benefitting from the AI boom, but in a different way    
      
   At present, around 37% of the Caribbean islands revenue comes from tourism,   
   marking a considerable reliance on international travel  a factor that was   
   heavily affected by COVID. However, this additional revenue worth around a   
   fifth of the governments income serves as an important extra to bolster   
   finances.    
      
   The average .ai domain costs $140 per year, but the most staggering figure is   
   the domains 90% renewal rate, indicative of long-term stability for Anguilla   
   on this front.    
      
   And its not just AI startups that are paying for Anguillas domains  Google,   
   x.ai and Perplexity are also cashing in on the brand-boosting trend.    
      
   The International Monetary Fund noted that Anguilla isnt the only Small    
   Island Developing State to have benefitted from its uniquely positioned    
   domain ownership. Tuvalu previously saw a rise in the 1990s for its .tv   
   domain.    
      
   IMF noted that Anguilla plans to invest its domain-related cash in long-term   
   sustainable projects, such as renewable energy. Key infrastructure like its   
   airport could also benefit from this strike of pure luck.    
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/ai-websites-are-booming-and-making-millions-for-   
   this-tiny-caribbean-nation   
      
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