Shah's sale of chat.com underscores the evolving landscape of domain trading and the impact of AI on user experiences worldwide.

In a tweet, Shah described chat.com as a cornerstone for a transformative AI product, emphasizing its intuitive and memorable nature.

Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO of HubSpot, has sold the premium domain name chat.com to OpenAI for over $15 million.

Shah originally purchased the domain for $15.5 million in early 2023, recognizing the potential of chat-based user experiences powered by generative AI.

He sold the domain shortly after acquiring it, potentially receiving shares from OpenAI instead of cash as compensation.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed the acquisition, which will redirect users to ChatGPT, OpenAI's primary AI product.

The acquisition aligns with OpenAI's rebranding efforts to favor more user-friendly names over technical jargon like 'GPT'.

The sale highlights the rising trend of 'vanity domains' in the tech industry, where short, memorable domains are increasingly valuable for branding and user access.

OpenAI's $6.6 billion funding makes the multimillion-dollar purchase of chat.com a strategic investment rather than a financial burden.

Shah has maintained a personal relationship with Altman for over a decade and expressed his excitement about the domain's potential for future technology.

Domains like chat.com enhance OpenAI's product accessibility, appealing to a wider global audience.