OpenAI, Meta and Google Compete for .agent in ICANN’s 2026 Round

OpenAI, Meta and Google are competing for the .agent domain string in the 2026 application round overseen by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), highlighting the growing push to establish branded and general-purpose internet endings for artificial intelligence services.

ICANN published the application list Oct. 7 after receiving 1,615 applications from 481 applicants. The application period ran from April 30 through Aug. 12.

OpenAI applied for 15 strings, including .openai, .chatgpt, .gpt, .codex, .agent, .agi, .asi and .mcp. Nine of its applications face competition from other applicants.

The .agent string has applications from 13 companies, including OpenAI, Meta, Google, XYZ.COM and Radix Technologies. Applications for the same string enter a contention set, and only one applicant can ultimately receive the string.

ICANN listed 263 contention sets involving 891 applications. Google’s Charleston Road Registry submitted 39 applications, 13 of which face competition. Meta submitted 18 applications, with only .agent facing another applicant.

Google’s applications include .gemini, .deepmind, .waymo and .fitbit. Meta’s list includes .facebook, .instagram, .whatsapp, .llama, .superintelligence and .wearables.

Anthropic applied for .anthropic and .claude, while Microsoft applied for .copilot and .msft. The application-list snapshot shows no competing applicants for those four strings.

Other artificial intelligence-related strings also drew multiple applications. Seven companies applied for .agi, five applied for .mcp and 10 applied for .api.

Crypto companies also submitted applications. Coinbase applied for .base, while Tether applied for .tether and .usdt, and ENS Registry applied for .ens. The snapshot shows no competing applicants for .tether, .usdt and .ens. Five companies applied for .crypto, and two applied for .bitcoin.

The application list adds detail about which companies are seeking specific strings.

Applicants that registered backup strings can switch to them during the replacement period, which runs from Oct. 8 through Oct. 21. ICANN plans to publish the final list of strings Nov. 17.

Contested strings will first undergo a community priority evaluation. If the competition remains unresolved, ICANN’s formal process provides for an auction; private auctions and private settlements are prohibited. The evaluation is expected to take about 180 days, while the prioritization draw is scheduled for the first half of 2027.