The race for AI-related new gTLDs is already crowded. ICANN’s October 7 publication of the 2026 round shows a large volume of proposals for strings tied to generative AI, product branding, and model infrastructure, with .agent standing out as a particularly contested choice.
According to the article, 13 applicants are seeking .agent, and the field is even larger than the combined competition for .agi and .asi. OpenAI is among the applicants, with 15 primary applications including .openai, .chatgpt, .codex, .gpt, and .agent alongside other AI-related strings such as .mcp, .model, and .voice. Meta Registry Holdings is also active, with 18 primary applications including .meta, .llama, .metaai, and .superintelligence.
Other major players are also in the mix. Anthropic has proposals for .anthropic and .claude, while Charleston Road Registry has a large portfolio including .gemini, .deepmind, .chromium, and .workspace. The article also notes that registry operators and platform companies are pursuing a broad set of strings beyond AI, with Link Freedom Group and XYZ.COM among the largest disclosed portfolios.
The disclosed applications are still subject to the evolving round process. Eligible applicants can choose replacement strings during the current replacement window, and the final contention sets will be adjusted as the round proceeds. For now, the picture is clear: AI is not just a category of interest in the 2026 round — it is one of the most competitive areas of the application field.