ANGUILLA AT THE HEART OF THE GLOBAL .AI WAVE

The rapid expansion of AI is driving digital technology and shaping the global economy—from industry and technology to the creative arts.

At the heart of all this now lies Anguilla. This British Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean is putting its stamp on the digital world as its now-famous .ai domain ramps up over a million listings, raking in a massive revenue intake from registrations for the local government.

Anguilla’s Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge said, “This milestone is about far more than domain registrations. The success of .ai has enabled Anguilla to invest in critical infrastructure that will serve our people for generations, while connecting our island to the future of global technology.”

Akram Atallah, CEO of Identity Digital, which manages registry services for the .ai domain, stated, “Identity Digital is committed to providing best-in-class safety, security, and support for the .ai domain and is thrilled to be part of its growth story. Equally rewarding is seeing how .ai’s success is directly contributing to Anguilla’s economy and the well-being of its people.”

Anguilla (population est. 15,000) has seen its GDP per capita trending upwards annually since it ‘logged into’ and literally started ‘capitalising’ on its fortuitous .ai internet designation.

According to a BBC News report, Anguilla’s .ai designation was assigned to it by chance in 1995. Quite interestingly, an AI-sourced review states that ‘the AI boom—sparked by ChatGPT’s 2022 release—turned this domain into a valuable, high-demand digital asset for tech firms, bringing in nearly US$39 million for the government in 2024.

The British territory’s per capita income has been rising steadily from US$23,000 in 2015 to currently around US$30,000 in 2023–2024, despite a major hurricane and COVI-19 in the intervening years. (Cayman’s estimated GDP per capita is US$90,000/CI$73,647 (Economic and Statistics Office - ESO).

The territory also has a thriving tourism industry.

In reviewing the 2025 national economic performance while presenting the 2026 budget projections last November, Anguilla’s Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge reported then that “few small islands can claim a global footprint in the digital economy, but Anguilla can. Our .ai domain name has become more than an address on the internet; it is a symbol of how intelligence, governance, and innovation can converge to create lasting value.”

She also stated that “revenue from domain name registration continues to exceed expectations, reflecting the growing global demand for artificial intelligence and the steady professionalism with which Anguilla manages this unique asset.”

According to the Anguilla government, revenues from .ai domain registrations are projected to contribute nearly forty per cent of total non-tax revenue, which Premier Richardson-Hodge termed “a remarkable example of how a small island can create global value through good governance and foresight.”

She however added: “But our task is not simply to collect revenue, it is to manage it wisely. The message is clear: .ai is not just a revenue stream; it is a nation-building tool for the digital age. And through prudent management, we will ensure that this opportunity uplifts every Anguillian, not for a moment, but for a generation.”

Michael L. Jarvis London UK