Key points
- Every .ai name has a public record in the registry. Open https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/example.ai, replacing the example with the name, or use whois.nic.ai (IANA).
- The record shows the registrar, creation date, expiry date and status locks. The owner's name is usually hidden for privacy.
- A creation date of 15 or 16 December 2017 means "on or before then": that's when the registry moved every name to its current system (Wikipedia).
- To contact a hidden owner, use the registrar's contact form or privacy relay, or a broker.
1. Look up the record
The .ai registry publishes registration records through RDAP, the modern replacement for WHOIS. Open this address in a browser, replacing example.ai with the name you're checking:
https://rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/example.ai
You'll get the record as text. The older WHOIS service at whois.nic.ai shows the same information (IANA). The service is for individual lookups: its terms forbid high-volume automated queries and using the data for marketing (Identity Digital).
2. Read the record
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Registrar | The company the name is registered through, such as Namecheap or MarkMonitor |
| Registration | When the name was created. 15–16 Dec 2017 means on or before that date |
| Expiration | When the current registration ends. Most are renewed before then |
| Transfer | The last time the name moved between registrars, often a sign of a change of owner or management |
| Status | Locks such as client transfer prohibited. Codes starting with server are set by the registry itself |
| Registrant | The owner. Usually redacted or shown as a privacy service; companies sometimes show their name |
ICANN explains every status code (ICANN).
A worked example
harvey.ai: the registry lists Harvey AI Corporation as the owner and MarkMonitor as the registrar. The name has been on record since December 2017 or earlier, is paid up until 11 Apr 2033, and has delete, transfer, update locks. It moved registrar on 8 Oct 2025. Every company in our directory with a registry lookup shows these fields in its domain record panel.
3. Look at DNS for clues
Public DNS records show how a domain is used even when the owner is hidden: which company runs its DNS, whether it receives email (MX records), and which services it has verified ownership with (TXT records). A domain with Google Workspace mail and verification records for Slack or Stripe is clearly in active company use. A parked name usually has none of these.
4. Contact the owner
If the owner is hidden, you can usually reach them through the registrar: many show a contact form or a privacy-relay email address in the record. A domain broker can also approach the owner on your behalf without revealing who you are. Our guide to buying a .ai domain covers the rest of the process.
Questions
- How do I look up who owns a .ai domain?
- Use the registry's RDAP service at rdap.identitydigital.services/rdap/domain/ followed by the name, or whois.nic.ai. The record shows the registrar, dates and status; the owner is usually hidden.
- Why do so many .ai domains show 16 December 2017 as their creation date?
- The registry moved every existing name to its current system on 16 December 2017, so names registered before then show that date.
- Can I find the owner's email address?
- Usually not directly. Use the registrar's contact form or privacy relay, or a broker.
Sources
- IANA: Delegation record for .AI
- Wikipedia: .ai
- Identity Digital: RDDS access policy
- ICANN: EPP status codes: what do they mean?
- Directory figures are computed from aidomaindata's listings, each linked to its own sources
Written by aidomaindata from the sources above. For information only, not financial or legal advice. Spot a mistake? Email hello@aidomaindata.com and we'll review it within two working days.