The man who bought AI dot com domain and made $70 million during Super Bowl

Malaysian technology entrepreneur Arsyan Ismail turned a quiet domain purchase into one of the biggest digital deals in internet history. He bought AI dot com years ago mainly because the two letters matched his own name initials.

At the time, it was simply a rare and clean web address, not a calculated bet on artificial intelligence. That changed as AI reshaped the global tech industry. In April 2025, Ismail sold AI dot com for about $70 million to Kris Marszalek. The deal drew global attention when the domain appeared in a commercial during Super Bowl LX, placing it before one of the largest television audiences in the world.Ismail is a low-profile Malaysian technology entrepreneur and early internet investor.

He has largely stayed away from public attention and is not known for founding consumer platforms or fast-growing startups. His approach has focused on ownership rather than execution. Over the years, he built value by holding scarce digital assets. People familiar with the domain industry describe him as patient and disciplined.

AI dot com’s rise from dormant domain to record-breaking asset

Two-letter domains are among the rarest properties on the internet. There are only 676 possible combinations, most of which were registered decades ago and rarely change hands.

This scarcity has made them highly valuable, especially as branding has become central to technology companies. AI dot com sits at the very top of this category. It is short, global, and instantly recognisable. As artificial intelligence emerged as a defining technology, demand for the domain surged.Despite its growing value, AI dot com was never aggressively developed under Ismail’s ownership. He did not build a company or product around it.

At times, the domain redirected to other AI-related websites, which sparked speculation but did not involve a change in ownership. Ismail continued to hold the domain quietly, a strategy that industry observers say helped preserve its long-term value.

Why the timing of the sale mattered

The decision to sell came as artificial intelligence reached peak public attention. AI tools were entering everyday life, while governments and corporations raced to define their strategies.

Branding around AI became fiercely competitive. This created ideal conditions for a sale. When Ismail agreed to sell AI dot com, the price reflected both the domain’s rarity and the broader AI boom. The $70 million figure set a new benchmark for domain transactions.The role of the Super BowlThe Super Bowl appearance turned the sale into a cultural moment. Rather than a quiet launch, the new owner chose the world’s biggest advertising stage to introduce AI dot com.

The commercial directed viewers to visit the site and reserve usernames. Traffic surged within minutes, briefly overwhelming the website. Even so, the move succeeded in making AI dot com one of the most talked-about tech moments of the broadcast.

What AI dot com is expected to become

Under its new ownership, AI dot com is being positioned as a consumer-facing AI platform. The site allows users to reserve personal handles and AI identities. The broader vision appears to centre on AI agents that can act on behalf of users across digital services.

While full details remain limited, the ambition is clear. AI dot com is intended to function as a front door to everyday AI tools.

How much Ismail likely earned

Reports suggest Ismail paid around $10 million to acquire the domain from a domain portfolio firm. Selling it for $70 million implies a profit of roughly $60 million. The payment was reportedly made in cryptocurrency, meaning the final realised value may depend on market conditions. Even with those variables, the deal stands as one of the most lucrative domain sales ever recorded.Ismail’s journey with AI dot com shows how timing, patience, and scarcity can redefine digital value. There was no rush to monetise and no product launch under his ownership. What began as a name-based purchase ultimately became the most expensive domain sale in internet history. In the age of artificial intelligence, two simple letters proved to be worth tens of millions.