The .SI domain and “Super Intelligence”: is Slovenia becoming the new Anguilla?

Quick summary: following Donald Trump’s September 2026 UN speech announcing the shift from "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) to "Super Intelligence" (SI), registrations for Slovenia’s .SI country-code domain surged past .AI in weekly new registrations. While .AI remains vastly larger overall, low upfront costs and brand protection risks (over 44,000 lookalike matches) make registering a .SI domain an essential strategic step for AI startups, brand owners, and domain investors.

What triggered the .SI domain boom?

In late September 2026, a single speech in New York sent shockwaves through the domain market. Donald Trump announced at the UN General Assembly that the U.S. administration would discontinue the term “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) in favor of “Super Intelligence”—shortened to SI. Domain investors and tech companies instantly connected the abbreviation with Slovenia’s .SI country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) and rushed to secure addresses.

According to data from domainnamestat.com, the day following the announcement saw over 30 times more new .SI domains registered than on a typical September day. But will .SI actually follow the same meteoric path as .AI, and is it worth securing a name now?

The origins of the "Super Intelligence" term

The administrative pivot gained traction when the U.S. president signaled a preference for replacing "Artificial Intelligence." Following an informal vote between “Super Intelligence” and “Superior Intelligence” (where roughly 65% selected the former), Trump delivered his September 22, 2026 UN speech using the new term. On September 29, he signed Executive Order "Inaugurating the Era of Super Intelligence," mandating that federal agencies adopt “Super Intelligence” and “SI” in official communications.

Market signals began appearing earlier in the year:

• May 2026 spike: Austrian registrar Domaintechnik noted a 3x increase in monthly .SI registrations.
• High-value sale: The startup Recursive acquired recursive.si for $20,000, signaling strong corporate demand.

Official registry data: interest escalated before September

Data from Slovenia's official registry, Register.si, confirms that momentum was building well before the UN address:

• Early 2026: Monthly new registrations averaged 1,000 to 1,500.
• May & June: Registrations jumped to over 4,500 and 5,000 per month.
• September Peak: Register.si recorded 46,066 new registrations in a single month.
• October 1: A 24-hour surge delivered over 13,000 new registrations.

Despite high server load, Register.si and its managing entity ARNES confirmed that all infrastructure remains stable and fully operational.

.SI vs. .AI: performance and cost comparison

In terms of total market size, .AI remains dominant with approximately 1.48 million active domains compared to 262,319 for .SI.

Lessons from Anguilla: how .AI transformed an island economy

To understand the current speculation around .SI, look at Anguilla—a British overseas territory with a population of 15,000.

• 2022: ~148,000 .AI domains registered.
• Early 2026: Over 1,000,000 active domains.

Domain revenue generated an estimated $81 million USD in 2025—accounting for roughly 39% of Anguilla’s total government budget.

Will .SI become the next .AI?

While registration volume has exploded, adoption of the term "SI" remains uncertain:

1. A YouGov survey published by Axios on October 1 revealed that 53% of respondents still prefer "AI," while only 9% prefer "SI."
2. Cybersecurity firm Netcraft analyzed .SI domains registered through Dynadot between September 19–22 and found that 52% were immediately listed for resale. High-profile listings include build.si asking for $10 million (despite selling for $17,435 in June 2026).
3. Register.si has downplayed claims of massive windfalls, noting that per-domain registry margins are modest, though industry reports estimated extra September registry revenue at ~€300,000.

Brand protection: why you should secure your .si domain

Netcraft has identified over 44,000 .SI domains that directly match existing active .AI domain names. This creates an immediate risk for trademark confusion and phishing schemes.

If your business, product, or brand currently operates on a .AI domain, registering the matching .SI extension serves as a low-cost defensive move to prevent cybersquatting and brand impersonation.

Registration rules for .SI

• Eligibility: Fully open globally to individuals and registered businesses. No Slovenian presence required.
• Domain Length: 2 to 63 characters.
• Pricing Advantage: At providers like Let’s Domains, .SI costs:

€25.49 net for the first year (renewal at €45.49/yr) 

$28,49 net for the first year (renewal at $51,49 / year) 

£21,99 net for the first year (renewal at£39,49 / year) 

with a 1-year minimum commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Need a quick answer to a question that's been bothering you? In the FAQ, you'll find answers to several questions about the .si domain—and if you're looking for an answer that isn't here, please write to us.

Who should buy a .SI domain?

A .SI domain is ideal for artificial/super intelligence startups, brand owners protecting existing .AI trademarks, and companies entering the Slovenian market.

Do I need to reside in Slovenia to register a .SI domain?

No. The .SI registry allows everyone worldwide to register without additional requirements.

Why is .SI significantly cheaper than .AI?

The .AI registry enforces a mandatory 2-year registration term at 80/year(160 total), whereas .SI offers 1-year registration terms at standard ccTLD pricing (~€25.49 for the first year).