The Contracted Parties Summit held 27-29 April 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom, provided ICANN Registries and Registrars an opportunity to engage and address policy issues of interest and importance. DotAsia hosted a fun networking reception at a local Manchester pub, engaging industry leaders and partners at the CP Summit. Participants were treated to a Manchester United game and festivities, including a GoCreate! networking session—exploring new ways in which domain names, and the Domain Name System (DNS), are used as potential drivers for the next round of new gTLDs. Learn about how the .Asia domain and Asian community is represented in the region, showing the world that while our roots are in Asia, our community has no borders.
The Wheel Turns
As the wheel turned, GoCreate! participants waited in eager anticipation for their names to be called, as clinking glasses and the cheers of football fans floated over the atmosphere.
Prior to DotAsia’s GoCreate! event in Manchester, CP Summit participants were provided the opportunity to win several prizes by completing an industry-wide survey, identifying trends in the domain name industry. At the event, survey participants entered into a “Wheel of Fortune” drawing, with the lucky winner announced during a live Manchester United match.
For context, the Asian community in the United Kingdom represents a substantial and increasing segment of the UK population, with 8.6% of the population identifying as Asian or Asian British in the 2021 UK Census. A significant transformation is also taking place within the UK consumer landscape. For the first time in a generation, Asian culture, aesthetics, and innovation—predominantly from China and South Korea—are transitioning from niche interest areas to mainstream influence. This shift is being driven largely by Generation Z (“Gen Z”) consumers, whose preferences are redefining purchasing behaviors, media consumption, and societal values across Britain. With increasing business relationships and industry development between both Asian diaspora communities and Asian businesses in the UK (and vice versa), DotAsia (.Asia) is able to demonstrate to the world that while our roots are in Asia, our community has no borders.
The lucky GoCreate! prize winner and DNS Industry Expert, Jothan Frakes, generously shared his prize with the son of Rubens Kühl, who passed away earlier this year. Rubens was an avid commentator on the evolution of the domain name industry, and a leader in the ICANN community. As Jothan described, “I won a Manchester United scarf at the .Asia [event] in Manchester, (…) and Rubens’ son loved ManU, so I regifted it in a good direction.”
In addition to the meaningful gift and game play, the stimulating networking event got the wheels of many industry minds turning, together. The session revealed notable insights and industry trends, including the future of the DNS, the positive and negative impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), and broader registrar and registry trends.
Industry Insights
According to the survey and feedback shared during the GoCreate! session, industry leaders and participants generally predict that AI will “obscure users for the DNS”; meaning the Internet as we know it will no longer be driven by human engagement. It was suggested by many that AI would eventually drive domain sales. In a related vein, digital identity and authentication would become increasingly relevant and in demand.
The DNS remains the best identity look-up tool for both people and AI Agents, and it’s considered to be a critical time to ensure that the DNS is used for AI Agent identity; keeping the DNS relevant. An AI Agent is a software application powered by artificial intelligence that can work toward objectives and carry out tasks on its own. Unlike simple chatbots that only react to user inputs, AI agents are capable of reasoning, creating plans, and making independent decisions to address complex challenges.
However, there are those in the wider technology industry who warn against the proliferation of AI Agents, and the growing replacement of human minds with artificial intelligence in professional and personal settings. Meredith Whittaker, President of Signal—the popular messaging app focused on privacy—wants you to remember that AI chatbots “are not your friends”. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Whittaker acknowledged that she uses AI for basic administrative tasks, such as formatting “a document here and there”, but clearly stated “I’m very serious about my thinking and writing, and I don’t want the process of working through an idea (…) to be foreclosed or eclipsed by the response of a system that’s averaging what’s already out there.”
GoDaddy, a leading global Internet domain registrar and web hosting company based in the United States, is supportive of ensuring the DNS is part of the AI Agent identifier system, in what’s being referred to as the “ANS”—Agent Naming System. Though it is DNS-based, the ANS would allow a space for the inevitable growth of AI Agents. “Because this is, we believe, a threshold moment for our industry,” stated James Bladel, Vice President Corporate and Government Affairs, GoDaddy, at the CP Summit in Manchester this year. Collaboration from industry and governance communities can drive towards a DNS-based approach, which better supports existing interoperability, and leverages the global multistakeholder model of Internet Governance. Edmon Chung, CEO of DotAsia, observed during the GoCreate! session following the Summit that “the impact of AI Agents on the DNS would not drive ‘hockey stick growth’ of the DNS per se, since it would be at the 3rd or 4th levels of the DNS—but it will keep the DNS relevant.”
Jared Sine, Chief Strategy & Legal Officer for GoDaddy, also added insight: “For decades, domain names have given people and businesses a consistent way to establish their identity and be discovered on the internet. As AI agents become participants on the open web, we have an opportunity to extend those same principles to the next generation of digital interactions. Agent Name Service builds on the proven foundation of DNS, reinforcing the enduring value of the domain name ecosystem while helping ensure the future of the internet remains open, interoperable, and rooted in shared standards.”
Other insights from the GoCreate! survey and event included the prediction of the biggest impact of AI on the future of domain names, and new uses of domains that will take off.
Industry leaders and participants believe that small home office Network Attached Storage (NAS), and digital identity, authentication and credentials would be the top new uses of domain names going forward. AI Agents are a part of the forecasted trend, though responses indicate a growing appreciation for identity and security among the new uses of the DNS.
Regarding both positive and negative impacts of AI, participants determined that AI would simplify website development and maintenance, and that AI would obscure end users from domain names as identifiers for human use. Further, a whopping 53% of survey participants agreed that AI could make it easier for utilization of domain names for personal digital homes and spaces, and that it would drive domain sales. In addition, approximately 40% of respondents noted they are already integrating AI into their registrar services.
Yet, AI remains controversial and emerging technologies remain unpredictable. An anonymous and impassioned survey participant predicted that “AI is overblown hype, and the bubble will pop soon. We’ll still see DNS using AI, but in 12 months the industry will focus on another shiny object, like they did after crypto, NFTs, the metaverse, etc.”
- Other statistics from the survey included:
42.3% said Domain monetization growth was an unexpected trend in domain registrations from the past 12 months, with 19.2% saying return of domainers and a lack of World Cup football-related domains were also surprising. - 61.5% think young people and the Gen Z view and use the DNS differently, with 34.6% believing that they are more likely to use it for their personal growth and promotion, and 26.9% believing that they are less likely to use the DNS.
- In terms of the best business case for investing in a domain and digital ecosystem versus relying on third-party platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Shopify, etc.) to reach customers, 38.5% believe the biggest benefits include ownership of web traffic and data, and 30.8% believe the greatest benefit is from brand protection and differentiation from competitors.
- Some survey responses were weighted, with respondents weighting all options. The impacts of AI were distributed across each of the answers, with responders also sharing their own views outside of the answer options. It is clear that although some of the long-term impacts of AI remain unknown, immediate impacts are more evident.
As the environmental impact of the Internet infrastructure continues to evolve under the age of AI, most respondents noted that they are not yet tracking such impacts on their DNS infrastructures or hosting services. When asked why, some respondents acknowledged that “more awareness is needed” regarding Internet infrastructure and sustainability, as “people like being good to the planet”. On that front, DotAsia is developing updated research in the coming year on the EcoInternet Index (EII), developed by DotAsia and the APNIC Foundation, which compares climate and Internet infrastructure data across APAC. It supports inclusive policy, activism, and research on the Internet’s environmental impact. By combining rigorous data analysis with stakeholder collaboration, the initiative aims to “Do More, Waste Less” by advocating for greener, more energy-efficient Internet infrastructure. In the future, EII intends to expand globally.
In a DNS landscape shaped by opportunities, challenges, and constant change, GoCreate! is pioneering new ideas and insights that advance the entire ecosystem, both in Asia and around the world.
The GoCreate! collaborative series will foster a deeper understanding and increased adoption of domain name assets within the digital landscape. The initiative underscores the strategic advantages for businesses in utilizing a meaningful portfolio of domain names, to enhance market reach, brand affiliation and resilience of digital systems. DotAsia plans to continue the series at other venues in Asia in 2026. Stay tuned to the GoCreate! website for more information about how you can participate.
With its rising youth, infrastructure, and economy—Asia is the future of the DNS industry. If you’re in the community, collaborate with DotAsia and share your ideas for the GoCreate! series.