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Are you thinking about buying a .ai domain for your Startup? Think twice.

Google Considers .AI Domains as a gTLD Instead of a ccTLD

During a recent Google SEO Office Hours session, Google’s Gary Illyes provided insight into the handling of .AI domains. He explained that despite being tied to Anguilla, a Caribbean island, .AI domains are managed similarly to generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and not like country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

Understanding the Distinction Between a Generic Top-Level Domain and a Country Code Top-Level Domain

Domain names fall into two main varieties: generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

gTLDs explained

A Generic Top-Level Domain, or gTLD, is a broad category of domain names not associated with any specific country and is recognized and used globally.

Common examples of gTLDs include .com, .net, .org, .biz, and .xyz, among others.

Country Code Top Level Domain

A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a special category of top-level domain that corresponds to a specific country.

For example, .uk and .in are ccTLDs associated with the United Kingdom and India, respectively.

Such domains help Google tailor content to the expected audience by recognizing the country associated with a given ccTLD.

So, if a domain ends in .in, it tells Google that the content is intended for an Indian audience.

Similarly, .in tells Google the geographic relevance of a domain, helping with location-specific search results.

This system resonates with global expectations of internet behavior by aligning geographic domains with their corresponding user bases.

IA as a Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)

Some country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) have meanings that transcend their geographic ties.

For example, Tuvalu, this small island nation lends its ccTLD, .TV, to entities that wish to associate themselves with television-related brands.

In parallel, Anguilla, located in the Caribbean, is linked to the .AI ccTLD, which also has its own distinct meaning.

Is it Acceptable for a Global Corporation to Use the .AI Domain?

An individual questioned the appropriateness of using a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) such as .AI for his website. He expressed concerns about potential localization issues, wondering whether choosing .AI could limit the site’s ability to achieve broad international visibility, especially in other countries such as the United States.

The question he posed was: “Is it advisable for a global company to register a .ai domain, or does Google recognize it as an Anguilla-specific ccTLD?”

In response to this, Google's Gary Illyes provided an informative update.

Statement by Gary Illyes:

“We currently categorize .ai as a generic top-level domain (gTLD) within Google Search. So yes, it is suitable for establishing a global online presence starting in June 2023.”

This answer may come as a surprise to some, as .AI has become a highly sought-after domain for many companies.

Until then, it was believed that Google already recognized .AI domains as gTLDs instead of ccTLDs. However, this classification was only made effective by Google in June 2023.

The importance of Illyes' response lies in his emphasis on the need to discern whether a domain extension is treated as a ccTLD or a gTLD, as this can substantially influence a site's global search ranking capabilities.

Targeting a domain associated with a specific country as local for Google's treatment may have detrimental implications for that site's ability to rank effectively outside the country associated with the ccTLD.

ccTLDs Treated as gTLDs by Google

Google has launched a directory of Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) that are recognized by Google as Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs).

This directory indicates that several ccTLDs, including .eu, .asia, .ad, .co, .fm, .tv, and especially .ai, are given the same treatment as gTLDs by the search engine. There are several other ccTLDs that are also treated the same way by Google, beyond those specifically mentioned.

Google's assimilation of certain ccTLDs as gTLDs covers a broader spectrum of domains, as reflected in its comprehensive list.

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