Z.ai Officially Acquired and Activated by Zhipu AI: Domain Names Become Strategic Assets in China’s AI Race

As artificial intelligence continues to flourish around the world, domain names are increasingly becoming an important strategic asset for companies to build strong digital brands. In 2025, Zhipu AI officially launched the new domain name Z.ai, marking a highly anticipated milestone in the ongoing AI brand building competition. Although the final transaction price has not yet been disclosed, industry experts estimate that the transaction price may exceed seven figures.

As a rare single-letter .ai domain, Z.ai holds tremendous brand value—concise, memorable, and perfectly aligned with Zhipu AI’s name and global ambitions. Its activation signals Zhipu AI’s commitment to building a powerful international presence through precision in digital branding.

Zhipu AI, officially known as Zhipu Huazhang Technology, is one of China’s leading AI firms. Spun off from Tsinghua University’s Natural Language Processing Lab, the company focuses on advancing general artificial intelligence (AGI). Its flagship product line, ChatGLM, is known for its robust multilingual capabilities, conversational fluency, and developer-friendly APIs. Zhipu also fosters an open-source ecosystem that has gained traction with developers worldwide.

Zhipu AI’s move mirrors a broader trend among Chinese tech giants aggressively acquiring high-value domain names to sharpen their global edge. Notable examples include:

Alibaba acquired Qwen.ai and Qwenchat.com to power its large language model brand “Tongyi Qianwen”

DeepSeek is rumored to have acquired AI.com, sparking widespread speculation about its international AI ambitions

360.com launched the ultra-short domain N.cn to strengthen its brand’s digital identity

Zhipu AI activated Z.ai, directly tying its core brand to a premium AI-focused domain

These moves highlight a growing awareness among Chinese AI firms that domain names are no longer just digital addresses—they are strategic tools that impact branding, trust, and user acquisition on a global scale.

Recent high-profile AI domain sales further reinforce this trend:

X.ai Over $1,500,000

Voice.ai Over $500,000

A.ai $1,200,000

C.ai $600,000

N.ai and Robot.ai remain in the portfolio of Jack, one of China’s most prominent domain investors

Jack is estimated to hold approximately 5% of all LL.com domains globally, making him a significant figure in the domain investment landscape. His early investment in Z.ai and its eventual sale to Zhipu AI once again demonstrates the immense value of top-tier domains in the AI boom.

Conclusion

From Z.ai to AI.com, from Qwen.ai to N.cn, domain names are fast becoming strategic battlegrounds for AI companies. In the era of global competition and massive AI adoption, a strong, brand-aligned domain can be the key to winning user trust, enhancing brand recognition, and signaling market leadership. As AI continues to shape the future, premium domain names are proving to be invaluable digital assets at the core of the industry’s evolution.

This news first appeared on: Domain.news