Is OpenAI redefining the way we chat’?
In the last week, it’s been announced that last year, OpenAI bought the domain name Chat.com. For a hefty (estimated) sum of $15.5 million. I’m still a bit unclear from the various reports as to whether this was a cash payment, or in the form of OpenAI shares (honestly I’d pick the later), but either way it’s big. It was previously owned by Dharmesh Shah, co-founder of HubSpot, who bought it in 2023 for $5 million, and with his sale to OpenAI that investment clearly paid off.
And it’s not just the cost that makes this big news. Technically, OpenAI has said this new domain is just a redirect. But anyone with a marketing thought in them will know this is so much more than just a convenient URL purchase.
Why “Chat” Works Better Than “ChatGPT”
Ever find yourself stumbling over the letters in “GPT”? You’re not alone. For a lot of people, the name “ChatGPT” sounds tech-heavy and less accessible, like a code you have to crack before you even start chatting. That’s where “Chat” shines. It’s easy, memorable, and straight to the point.
It also stops some clever competitors cashing in on this confusion. I recently learned that Ninja Chat (an OpenAI competitor) actually bought the domain name “chatgtp.com” (gTp rather than gPt). And so if you get the URL wrong, that domain name version will re-direct you to the Ninja Chat website. Very clever from them, but definitely not what OpenAI want to happen. And the big benefit of “chat.com” is it avoids all of that confusion.
ChatGPT and Google: A Friendly Rivalry?
Imagine this future scenario: instead of saying, “I’ll Google it,” you might say, “I’ll Chat it.” It sounds strange now, but it’s not impossible. For years, Google has been synonymous with finding information, almost to the point of being a verb: “Just Google it.” With Chat.com in the game, OpenAI might be aiming to create a similar association for AI-powered conversation.
Yes, it’s a bold comparison. Google is massive. But think about how much more “Chat” invites people in. It feels friendly, approachable, and relatable. And if OpenAI’s tech can become as efficient and reliable as Google’s search engine, well, we might just have a new go-to tool for quick answers.
A Signal of OpenAI’s Future?
Right now, the Chat.com domain redirects to ChatGPT, but could this be the first hint of a major rebrand? Imagine OpenAI evolving ChatGPT into simply “Chat”—a shift that would make the tech feel less intimidating and more inviting. And with this shift, Chat could gradually position itself as a new-age assistant for everything from advice and creativity to problem-solving and casual Q&A.
Your Takeaway Prompt
Curious about the power of a name? Here’s a prompt to test out with ChatGPT:
Prompt: “Imagine I’m building a new tool for conversational AI. Come up with three names that are simple, inviting, and capture the concept of user-friendly conversation. For each name, write a brief pitch on why it would be memorable for users.”
This could help spark some creative thinking around branding and simplicity—an idea that Chat.com embodies perfectly.