Meta leads ICANN TLD rush with 21 requests as AI names dominate new applications
Meta submitted 21 new top-level domain applications to ICANN, leading a wave of 1,615 requests focused heavily on artificial intelligence branding and identity.
Key points
- Meta filed 21 applications for new TLDs, including brand-specific and AI-related names.
- OpenAI submitted 15 requests, competing with Meta and others for the .agent domain.
- ICANN received 1,615 total applications, signaling strong interest in expanding the DNS.
Meta submitted 21 applications for new generic top-level domains (TLDs) to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), according to Computerworld. The tech giant’s requests include brand-specific extensions like .facebook and .instagram, as well as AI-focused names such as .metaai and .superintelligence. This move places Meta at the forefront of the latest round of TLD applications revealed by ICANN.
OpenAI followed with 15 requests, seeking extensions including .chatgpt, .openai, and .gpt. The company is also among seven organizations attempting to register .agi, a term associated with artificial general intelligence. Both Meta and OpenAI are among 13 applicants competing for the .agent TLD, highlighting the intense competition for AI-related digital real estate in this new expansion round.
Competition for AI and Brand Domains
The race for specific TLDs is already shaping up to be contentious. Six organizations are applying for the .human TLD, potentially as a counterpoint to the AI-focused names. It remains unclear who will ultimately secure .superintelligence or .si, but the applications indicate a battle for these terms is underway. Amazon submitted eight applications, including .alexa, .echo, and .twitch, while Microsoft sought only two: .msft and .copilot.
Other companies made smaller bids. OpenClaw applied for .claw and .oss, and Anthropic requested .anthropic and .claude. These varied applications reflect different corporate strategies for securing online identity. While some firms cast a wide net with numerous requests, others focused on protecting their primary brand names or specific product lines within the new TLD structure.
Impact on IT Management and DNS Expansion
ICANN revealed the 1,615 applications on Wednesday, marking a significant step in the next expansion of the Domain Name System. Existing TLDs include common extensions like .com, .org, and .net, as well as country codes like .uk and .ca. This new batch aims to further expand the global number of available TLDs, which could increase complexity for IT teams managing network routing and security policies.
Kurtis Lindqvist, president and CEO of ICANN, stated that the applications demonstrate how organizations are innovating to build trusted online identities. He emphasized that ICANN remains focused on administering a fair, transparent, and predictable evaluation process. The organization will take months to whittle down the list, sort out multiple requests for the same TLDs, and decide which applicants receive the rights to specific extensions.
What should you do?
Security and IT professionals should monitor ICANN’s evaluation process to anticipate changes in the domain landscape. Organizations should review their own domain portfolios to ensure brand protection in the new TLD space. Teams should prepare for potential increases in phishing risks as new, confusingly similar TLDs become available.
What to do and how to stay safe: ICANN
- Audit current domain registrations to identify potential conflicts with new TLDs.
- Update email filtering rules to account for new generic top-level domains.
- Monitor ICANN announcements for final decisions on contested TLD applications.
- Educate users on recognizing legitimate domains amid a more crowded DNS.
Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How many TLD applications did Meta submit?
Meta submitted 21 applications for new top-level domains to ICANN.
Which companies are competing for the .agent TLD?
Meta and OpenAI are among the 13 organizations seeking to register the .agent TLD.
When did ICANN reveal the new applications?
ICANN revealed the 1,615 applications on Wednesday, according to Computerworld.
