ICANN says it has received 1,615 applications from 481 different applicants for new top-level domains. Ten companies, including Meta and OpenAI, applied for .agent. The announcement is an early part of the process, so the applications do not mean that the domains are already available.
What does a top-level domain mean?
A top-level domain, or TLD, is the ending of a web address, such as the familiar suffixes described in the source. ICANN has opened applications for new TLDs for the first time in years, according to the report. The submitted strings range from general terms to names associated with individual companies.
Why are companies seeking .agent?
The reported applications show that 10 companies want the .agent string. Meta and OpenAI are named among them, but the source does not say what either company plans to do with it. It also does not identify the other applicants, describe any commercial terms, or say which application will succeed.
How does .agi fit into the applications?
Seven companies applied for .agi, including OpenAI, according to the source. That makes .agi another string with multiple applicants in the same batch. The report does not explain a distinction in intended use between .agi and .agent, so no purpose for either domain can be confirmed from the material.
What kinds of strings are included?
The applications cover generic strings and branded strings. Generic examples in the source include .geek, .haha, .anime, and .jackpot, while branded applications are meant for company-specific use. The batch includes 345 brand applications, with examples spanning businesses named in the source.
What happens after an application?
The announcement describes an early step in creating new TLDs, and the report says no domain will become official before sometime next year. It does not state the later process for resolving overlapping applications or provide a timetable beyond that point. The eventual outcome for .agent and .agi therefore remains unknown.
The figures describe the submissions ICANN has announced, rather than confirmed operating domains. The source also reports that OpenAI applied for 15 TLDs and Meta sought 21, showing that applicants may pursue multiple strings. Further details about decisions and final availability have not been provided.