It was a rather bold, thoughtful move on OpenAI‘s behalf to outline its commitment in recent times toward making the interaction with AI much direct and straightforward. The acquisition of Chat.com routing users directly to ChatGPT.com is not just a strategic domain grab but testimony to the focus of OpenAI regarding accessibility and convenience toward its users.

Imagine having to search for a stable AI tool that would help with creative projects, professional emails, or deeply informative research. It is true that, in this pre-changeover era, finding ChatGPT meant accessing longer web addresses or following bookmarked links. But since Chat.com has come under OpenAI ownership, there is a shorter and more intuitive route laid out, streamlined-no frills, no added clicks. Just type “Chat.com,” and voilà-you’re there, ready to harness the power of ChatGPT for whatever you may need. This is one of those minor yet effective changes that help save time and make the process of getting things done easier.

Why did OpenAI zero in on this acquisition? The reason can easily be derived from how they have concentrated their efforts on user-centric experiences. After all, in a world full of digital clutter, quick access is everything. OpenAI is making the detour to ChatGPT so seamless that whether you’re in need of ideas for brainstorming, technical support, or just chatting, you get to your digital destination without detours. This isn’t about ownership; this’s continuity. In today’s fast-moving environment, such even minor saves of time make a great difference.

Utilizing this newly acquired domain is about as easy as it gets. If you’re looking for ChatGPT, all you have to do is enter in Chat.com in your browser’s address bar and watch as you’re taken directly to the ChatGPT interface. From there, the whole world of AI-driven support opens up sans the usual friction caused by an elaborate URL. It’s that kind of user-first thinking that shows OpenAI is not only building great tools but also making sure they are accessible and actually easy to find.

By doing so, OpenAI is catering not only to convenience but also reaffirming its commitment to the proximity of AI towards end-users. Be it an experienced professional trying to smoothly weave the features of AI into their work regimen or a novice just beginning to dip their toes into the water, Chat.com routes them back to the core location of AI-powered conversations on ChatGPT. The shortest route now exists-and one need not hunt or fumble through page after page. Just one entry, a click, and your AI companion is ready to collaborate with you.

What was on Chat.com before this acquisition?

Before OpenAI’s acquisition, whose value is not disclosed officially, (we estimate it purchased for USD 20 Millions), Chat.com was owned by Dharmesh Shah, a co-founder and CTO at HubSpot. Shah had bought the domain at the beginning of 2023 for USD 15.5 million; the idea was to use it for major strides in conversational interfaces. This was partly because Shah was convinced that chat-based user experiences were the next step in software development, especially with generative AI technologies on the rise.
During his ownership, Chat.com was a domain asset that was intrinsically more valuable as an independent entity and without any single public service or platform it represented. Shah sold Chat.com to OpenAI this November 2024 and it currently forwards to ChatGPT.com, which sends users to OpenAI’s AI-powered conversational platform.