US considers Robinhood to manage Trump-backed investment accounts for children

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The U.S. government is considering selecting Robinhood to help oversee new government-supported investment accounts for children, known as “Trump accounts,” according to a Bloomberg News report citing people familiar with the matter. The program would involve opening accounts for millions of U.S. children and placing Robinhood in a trustee role for the initial rollout.

The report said Robinhood has begun internal preparations in case it is chosen, while other major investment firms such as Fidelity Investments and Vanguard Group have not been approached for the first phase. The U.S. Treasury Department is expected to select up to three firms to serve as initial trustees, with a decision anticipated soon. Neither Robinhood nor the Treasury immediately commented on the report.

The accounts were announced this week by Donald Trump as part of a government-backed initiative aimed at encouraging long-term investing. Under the plan, the U.S. Treasury Department would deposit $1,000 into an investment account for every child born in the United States between 2025 and 2028. Treasury estimates suggest roughly 25 million families could qualify.

The administration projects that, without any additional contributions, the accounts could grow to about $5,800 by the time beneficiaries reach age 18. Trump has also urged U.S. businesses to contribute to the accounts on behalf of employees’ children, potentially increasing long-term returns. The proposal represents a significant expansion of government involvement in retail investing and could elevate the role of fintech platforms in public financial programs.

Apple acquires Israeli audio AI startup Q.ai

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Apple said it has acquired Q.ai, an Israeli startup focused on artificial intelligence for audio applications. Apple did not disclose financial terms, but a source familiar with the deal said the transaction valued Q.ai at around $1.6 billion. The startup was backed by several major venture capital firms.

Apple said Q.ai has developed machine learning techniques that help devices understand whispered speech and improve audio quality in difficult environments. The company did not specify how the technology will be integrated, but the acquisition aligns with Apple’s broader push to enhance AI-driven experiences across its hardware products, including wearables.

Q.ai has also filed patents related to detecting subtle facial skin micromovements to interpret speech, identity, and certain physiological indicators. Around 100 Q.ai employees, including its leadership team, will join Apple as part of the deal. Apple executives said the acquisition strengthens its long-term capabilities in imaging, audio, and machine learning.

Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon in talks to invest up to $60 billion in OpenAI

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Major technology companies Nvidia, Microsoft, and Amazon are in discussions to invest up to $60 billion in OpenAI, according to a report by The Information. The talks highlight the growing scale of investment required to develop and operate advanced artificial intelligence models.

Nvidia, an existing OpenAI investor whose chips power many of its AI systems, is reportedly considering an investment of up to $30 billion. Microsoft, a long-term backer, is said to be in talks to invest less than $10 billion, while Amazon, which would be a new investor, is discussing a significantly larger commitment that could exceed $20 billion.

The report said OpenAI is close to receiving formal term sheets from the potential investors. Amazon’s participation may be linked to broader commercial negotiations, including expanded cloud infrastructure agreements and the sale of OpenAI products such as enterprise ChatGPT subscriptions. The talks come as OpenAI faces rising costs to train and run its models amid intensifying competition in the AI sector.