The internet is convinced Elon Musk’s xAI trolled OpenAI’s ‘Dots’ launch
techcrunch ·
OpenAI recently launched 'Dots,' a new AI agent featuring a colorful, blobby avatar. Shortly after the announcement, internet users noticed that the domain name 'dot.com' redirects to xAI’s Grok chatbot download page. This domain was transferred to Elon Musk’s company in July, leading to widespread speculation that it was a deliberate prank against OpenAI. While xAI could have purchased the domain to capture typo traffic for 'bot,' the timing suggests otherwise. An anonymous X user named @birdabo first highlighted this connection, sparking viral amusement across social media. The theory posits that Musk or his team intentionally acquired the domain to troll their former founder and competitor. Although 'dots.com' belongs to a defunct company, the current redirect has fueled the narrative of competitive mischief.
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