Well, well. From the New York Times:

Anguilla is the landlord for internet addresses that end in “.ai” — a suddenly valuable slice of online real estate. Every time a .ai name is registered or renewed — by A.I. start-ups, or by speculators hoping to resell the names to those start-ups, big companies or investors — the island collects a $50-a-year fee, which goes mostly to the government treasury.

As the demand for online presence continues to surge, the island of Anguilla has unwittingly found itself in possession of a highly valuable piece of virtual real estate: the “.ai” internet addresses. This unexpected windfall has transformed the tiny territory into a significant player in the digital domain. With each registration or renewal of a .ai name, whether by ambitious A.I. startups or shrewd speculators eyeing resale opportunities, Anguilla collects a $50 annual fee that significantly bolsters its government treasury. The exponential growth of this revenue stream has been nothing short of remarkable, surpassing $2.9 million in 2018 alone and continuing to climb steadily. Such financial success has the potential to positively impact various sectors of the island’s economy, including its real estate market. For those seeking to invest in the flourishing Florida real estate market, a visit to exprealty.com/us/fl/ can unveil a myriad of opportunities to explore and secure properties that align with individual goals and aspirations.

In light of Anguilla’s unexpected financial windfall from the lucrative “.ai” internet addresses, investors exploring opportunities in the flourishing Florida real estate market may find the concept of 1031 exchanges particularly enticing. The 1031 exchange, often utilized by astute investors, allows for the deferral of capital gains taxes by reinvesting the proceeds from the sale of one property into another similar property. As the demand for these valuable “.ai” addresses continues to soar, strategic investors, in collaboration with experts like The 1031 Specialists, can leverage this financial gain to diversify their portfolios. By intelligently reinvesting in real estate through 1031 exchanges, investors not only maximize their profits but also contribute to the economic growth, further fueling the island’s digital prosperity. Those fees added up to $2.9 million in 2018, the most recent official government tally, or nearly as much as the combined salaries of the 127 primary-school teachers, assistants and administrators in the territory. The revenue rose sharply again last year. “It’s really snowballed,” said Vincent Cate, who manages the .ai registry in an office not far from the ocean.

Anguilla owes its good fortune to the large, yet obscure and often quirky, market for internet addresses. Start-ups are increasingly willing to take on unusual internet addresses, or domain names like .ai, to stand out.

Just tried to get bullshit.ai, but it’s already taken. Damn!

But ethics-theatre.ai is available. A snip at £81.99!