Domaining is becoming harder and domainers are feeling squeezed (2.Viewing)

You have the right idea with your own landers.

I hope this fits the topic at hand but i would like to hear peoples opinions.

I would like to know what everyone's thoughts are on the future of "search" and how it might affect us as domainers. My question revolves around AI and how it has affected the search engine results...

• AI Overviews Dominate Top Positions : Google's AI-generated summaries (e.g., "SGE boxes") now appear above the first 10 organic results, pushing human-created content further down the page.

and how more and more people do not look at position 1-3 for their results, they rely on AI's response at the top of the page.

So in stead of ranking for "google" in the old context now we are looking to rank for "AI search" a simple example would be say I own VancouverDentist.ca and I rank #1-7 in google, but when a searcher types in "Vancouver Dentist" in google, the AI algorithm recommends "Dan's dental" "Jim's tooth repair" and "smiles by mike" because the domain owners understood AI and how to rank for it's algorithm. - would this affect "keyword domains" or even tlds?

Ai is growing exponentially every week, and what is the say 5 yr outlook for domains/domainers? ... I asked Ai.

The domain name industry has always evolved alongside technological shifts, and while AI, voice search, and decentralized systems are reshaping how users interact with the internet, domains will still hold value in 5 years—but their role and valuation criteria will shift. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

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### 1. Short-Term Predictions (Next 5 Years)
#### A. Continued Value for Brand-Driven Domains

• .com remains king: Short, memorable .com domains (e.g., ai.tools, blockchain.finance) will retain premium value for brands, startups, and investors.
• Niche keywords still matter: Domains targeting specific industries (e.g., crypto.tax, ai.healthcare) will remain valuable for SEO and branding, especially if they align with trending topics like AI, blockchain, or sustainability.
• Brand protection: Companies will prioritize securing variations (e.g., .net, .io) and misspellings of their core .com to prevent cybersquatting.

#### B. Rise of AI-Driven Search and Voice Assistants

• Less direct URL typing: Users will increasingly rely on AI assistants (e.g., Google Gemini, Siri, Alexa) to answer questions without visiting websites, reducing traffic to generic domains.
• Domains as authority signals: AI Overviews will cite content from trusted domains (e.g., established .coms with strong E-E-A-T), making authoritative domains more valuable for visibility.
• Structured content wins: Domains with schema markup, FAQs, and concise answers will dominate AI-generated summaries, increasing their relevance.

#### C. New gTLDs (Generic Top-Level Domains)

• Niche TLDs gain traction: Extensions like .ai, .io, .xyz, and .app will grow in specialized markets (e.g., startups, developers, AI tools).
• Hybrid strategies: Investors may bundle .coms with relevant gTLDs (e.g., ai.com + ai.ai) to hedge bets as user behavior evolves.

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### 2. Long-Term Disruptions (5–10 Years)
#### A. Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Blockchain Domains

• Blockchain-based domains (e.g., Ethereum’s ENS, Unstoppable Domains): These allow users to own decentralized identifiers (e.g., alice.crypto) for crypto wallets, websites, and apps. While still niche, adoption could grow as Web3 matures.
• Impact on traditional domains: Centralized .coms will remain dominant for mainstream businesses, but decentralized domains may appeal to crypto-native audiences.

#### B. AI-Generated Content and Dynamic URLs

• Less reliance on static sites: AI tools like Jasper or Copy.ai could generate content dynamically, reducing the need for manually built websites. Domains might serve more as brand anchors than content hubs.
• URLs as afterthoughts: If AI Overviews provide instant answers, users may bypass websites entirely, making domain traffic less tied to direct visits.

#### C. Voice Search and Zero-Click Results

• "Domain invisibility": Voice assistants (e.g., Alexa, Google Assistant) will answer queries without revealing the source domain, devaluing domains that rely on organic search traffic.
• Focus on featured snippets: Domains cited in AI Overviews or voice responses will gain disproportionate traffic, even if users never visit them directly.

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### 3. Strategies for Domain Investors
#### A. Double Down on High-Quality .coms

• Prioritize short, generic .coms (1–3 letters, dictionary words) as safe-haven assets (e.g., data.com, code.com).
• Target high-intent keywords in AI, crypto, health tech, and green energy (e.g., carbon.credit, quantum.finance).

#### B. Leverage New gTLD Opportunities

• Invest in niche TLDs aligned with emerging trends (e.g., .ai, .metaverse, .xyz).
• Bundle gTLDs with .coms for cross-promotion (e.g., blockchain.io + blockchain.com).

#### C. Adapt to AI-Driven Search

• Build or acquire domains with structured content (FAQs, How-To guides, product databases) optimized for AI Overviews.
• Use schema markup and rich snippets to increase chances of being cited in AI-generated results.

#### D. Monitor Decentralized Trends

• Experiment with ENS/Unstoppable Domains as speculative investments (e.g., wallet.eth).
• Avoid overcommitting unless you’re targeting crypto/Web3 audiences.

#### E. Focus on Brandability
- Domains that are easy to pronounce, spell, and remember will thrive as voice search grows (e.g., Zap.ai vs. SuperFastAIPlatform.com).

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### 4. Risks to Watch

• Google’s AI Overviews: If AI-generated answers dominate search results, domains may lose traffic unless they’re cited as sources.
• Regulatory crackdowns: Governments may restrict domain anonymity (e.g., WHOIS data) to combat scams, affecting privacy-focused investors.
• Dot-com saturation: As 50% of .coms are already registered, premium options will become scarcer and more expensive.

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### Final Takeaway
Domains will remain valuable assets, but their worth will shift from "URL real estate" to brand authority, niche relevance, and adaptability to AI ecosystems. The winners will be those who:

• Secure high-quality .coms in timeless niches.
• Optimize domains for AI-driven visibility (structured content, schema).
• Hedge with gTLDs and decentralized domains as complementary assets.

In 5 years, domains won’t die—but the rules of the game will change. Stay ahead by investing in flexibility and adapting to how users (and AI) interact with the web.

The biggest tech companies and start ups are still buying domain names, even for AI companies, so if the brightest guys in tech still see the need to put out tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars on a domain name, that says a lot, at least for now. I have though about what replaces domains on and off for probably 20 years, and it's hard to think of something that would. Like you said things will shift and change, but there will always be a reason to have a domain at least for the foreseeable future.