On this week's show, Nadya Frost of domain and hosting analytics company ShareShift shares interesting data about the .AI namespace, as well as other trends related to artificial intelligence.

We discuss how AI is changing the technologies people use for building websites and how sites are optimizing for large language models.

ShareShift focuses on the European market, so we also explore how that market differs from the rest of the world.

Also: Polymarket domain, dotDB, NameJet, and more.

Sponsor: Spaceship Sellerhub

Last week, Internet Commerce Association announced changes to its board.

Longtime board member Nat Cohen stepped up to the role of president, and Ryan McKegney is the new vice president.

On today's show, both Nat and Ryan will join me, along with executive director Kamila Sekiewicz.

We discuss the recent ICA meetup in New York and what the organization is working on this year.

Also: Anti-trust claim, Blacknight acquired, and more.

Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

Anand Vora, who oversees Namecheap's and Spaceship's domain businesses, joins me on the show this week.

We discuss Anand's history in the domain business, what it's like to move from the registry side to the registrar side, and what's in store for both Namecheap and Spaceship.

Also: Web3 integration technical group, NIXI nixes domain investors

Sponsor: Namecheap .AI auctions

Human rights organization Article19 recently released a report titled Damming a river to catch a fish, examining how governments and other entities are increasingly turning to the DNS layer to censor content.

On today's show, Michaela Nakayama Shapiro of Article19 explains what the organization found and what can be done about it, including recommendations for registries, registrars, ICANN, and governments, as well as guidance for organizations facing censorship threats.

Also: Bali, domain appraisals, .co changes, and more

Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

Nordic Domain Days took place in Stockholm, Sweden, last week. It was my first time attending the event, and the trip was very worthwhile. Not only was the content good, but the networking was solid as well, with many people I had never met.

On today's show, you'll hear from five people who were at the conference, including a conversation with the event's founder, LG Forsberg.

Also: Domain renewal data, Whois contact forms, and more

Sponsor: Spaceship

Very few domain name investors ever reach the point where they do it full-time. It's even rarer when they primarily invest in non-.com domains.

One investor who went full-time is Nikul Sanghvi. He was a part-time investor when the pandemic hit, and as his consulting work dried up, he took the plunge.

On today's show, Nikul talks about some of the pros and cons of investing in domains full-time. We also discuss how the market is changing and how Nikul is adapting his strategy to the times.

Nikul has been on the show before. On episode #269, he discussed his path from selling vinyl records to selling domains. On episode #327, Nikul explained his thinking around harvesting gains vs. replenishing your portfolio. Also, check out episode #504 for thoughts on diversification.

Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Artificial intelligence is having a huge impact on the domain name industry. One area it could help grow the business is if agents use the DNS for identity.

Today, Identity Digital CEO Akram Atallah discusses the company's new DNSid, which it bills as "birth certificates for agents."

We discuss the need for a standard and how Identity Digital's initiative differs from the one GoDaddy is building.

And no discussion with Identity Digital would be complete without a conversation about this year's new top level domain expansion.

Also: Small business warning, .latino, ICA board changes, and more

Sponsor: Namecheap

Top level domain company ShortDot didn't apply for any top level domains in the 2012 round, but it later acquired TLDs and has grown its portfolio to millions of second level registrations.

On today's show, ShortDot CEO Lars Jensen explains why ShortDot was founded and how it has grown its registrations. He also talks about his expectations for the next round, in which ShortDot will likely be among the larger applicants.

Also: DNSSEC, Prosecco, and UDRP

Sponsor: Sav.com backorders