.aio

1. .AIO's primary meaning is "All-in-One" — platforms, devices, or services that combine multiple functions into a single integrated offering. .AIO also finds its historical anchor in "AI + IO": the intersection of artificial intelligence and data input/output. .AIO pairs both meanings in a single namespace — itself an all-in-one. While registrations would be open without restriction, the .AIO namespace is expected to attract organizations grounded in the AI + IO convergence. These include AI and data-processing technology companies; AI inference providers and data I/O pipelines; endpoint suites for model tool calling; developers of all-in-one software platforms and integrated suites; organizations building integrated workflows and automation pipelines; smartphone and consumer electronics brands; super-app and unified-service providers; and businesses offering bundled products or subscription services. Related activities already carried out (or planned for launch) include: registry service provider evaluations, technical readiness for DNS stability and DNSSEC, IDN support, and ensuring providers meet benchmarks for resolution stability and query response time. Required rights protection mechanisms will include the Trademark Clearinghouse, Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP), and Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS). Having served a decade as Registry Operator for the .CAM gTLD, we have gathered extensive experience in registry operations, registrar communication, user awareness campaigns, and TLD promotion. We will leverage this expertise to make .AIO a success. It is a priority to offer best practice operations, best-in-class technical infrastructure, and full compliance with Registry Operator policy. All registry operations would comply with applicable privacy and data protection laws, and registrants would be required to adhere to lawful use standards. To further protect registrants and internet users, we work alongside trusted DNS services like CleanDNS for spam handling, registry-lock services, and rapid takedown mechanisms to respond to malicious use. Communication with Registrars will commence as soon as possible to raise awareness, and ensure an effective launch of the .AIO TLD. Registration would be open on a first-come, first-served basis following extensive Sunrise and Landrush periods giving existing intellectual property rights owners the opportunity to secure and protect their names ahead of the general public. Followed by the outreach to developers and platforms would be conducted to encourage adoption of the .AIO namespace. Attendance and participation at ICANN Meetings, and other relevant events, is planned. 2. The purpose of .AIO is to provide a dedicated namespace for the AI + IO convergence — where intelligence and data I/O working together increasingly produces all-in-one experiences. Platforms such as WeChat, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace demonstrate the demand for integrated offerings. More recently, the DNS-AID initiative extends this demand to the DNS layer, connecting AI agents at the namespace level — alongside the Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that connect AI models to external data and tools through standardized endpoints.

Te Kāhui Raraunga Charitable Trust (TKR) established in 2019, is an indigenous peoples mandated representative organisation of over 85 iwi-Māori (approximate population 800,000). TKR is entrusted to advocate for indigenous data rights and progress indigenous data practices. TKR recognise that our goals are not unique to our context but part of the wider global Indigenous Peoples pursuit for self-determination. Indigenous Peoples make up approximately 6.2% of the global population including 90 countries, 5000 cultures and 6000 Indigenous languages with 1500 of those at risk. One of the greatest challenges faced by our community is access to the Internet acknowledged by The United Nations in their UN Agenda for Sustainable Development. They aim to close the digital divide by 2030. Given the colonial impacts on Indigenous Peoples across the globe, there is a lack of trust in digital ventures that are not Indigenous-led or regulated. The .aio TLD is an opportunity to create a trusted space, have a presence and share, with appropriate care and protections, knowledge and information including ancestral knowledge. .aio is an acronym for Ancestral Intelligence Offering. Indigenous Peoples are stewards and custodians of the natural world. Indigenous peoples share the belief that knowledge is handed down through generations and kinship. This includes connections to and with the natural world. This responsibility is a common thread of connection across Indigenous Peoples (The .aio Community) globally and forms a central component to a shared worldview, belief systems and values; celebrating and uniting indigeneity worldwide, since time immemorial. Aio is also an Indigenous Māori word for peace and tranquility. Peace in this sense is also a destination. From an Indigenous worldview if the planet is in a state of peace, it must be in a state of harmony; where all humans and the natural world are in absolute balance. Given the climate, economic and technological challenges the world is currently faced with, it is becoming increasingly understood that Indigenous knowledge can emancipate the globe from these pressures in pursuit of absolute peace and balance for all nations, and all environments. TKR recognises that there is value in enabling Indigenous Peoples and their communities, nations and tribes by providing a trusted, clear, and identifiable .aio mark to assert Indigenous self-determination; recognise Indigenous data sovereignty principles to protect Indigenous rights, heritage and aspirations, underpinned by sustainable models of Indigenous governance. This includes the elevation of Indigenous ways of being, dedicated to bringing trust, equity and peace to Indigenous wellbeing. Across the Internet and its digital ecosystem universally, this is yet to be realised. TKR respects the self-defining and self-organising mechanisms of Indigenous Peoples. The development of an Indigenous Peoples’ Data Trust as an overarching governance body will ensure credibility, equity and access, underpinned by the CARE Principles, promoting collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility and ethics honouring Indigenous rights. The CARE Principles are foundational to achieving and sustaining the intentions of the .aio TLD. The Data Sovereignty for self-determination of Indigenous Peoples’ honouring ancestral intelligence community (The .aio Community) is longstanding with over 30 years of established and committed global efforts. The .aio TLD is an extension and advancement of this collective movement intended for Indigenous Peoples to assert their self-determination and other value-aligned Peoples who wish to join our efforts in progressing Indigenous data rights, practices and wellbeing. The Indigenous Peoples’ Data Trust will be a self-organised governance group to ensure credibility and access to .aio Community, accountability with the policy settings and upholding the CARE Principles for Indigenous data governance.