RBC iShares and BlackRock expand exchange-traded ETF lineup with new active A.I. and technology fund

RBC iShares is expanding its exchange-traded fund lineup with the launch of a new actively managed product focused on artificial intelligence and technology. The new fund is named the iShares A.I. Innovation and Tech ETF, and it trades under the ticker XBAI, according to an announcement dated October 13, 2026 that was carried by Yahoo Finance.

The fund is designed around the theme of A.I. innovation and technology companies, with an “active” approach. An actively managed ETF is structured like a traditional ETF that trades intraday, but its portfolio construction is guided by a manager’s strategy rather than tracking a market index.

The announcement frames the launch as part of the broader RBC iShares alliance expanding its ETF offerings. RBC iShares is the joint brand used by RBC and iShares for distributing and marketing iShares ETFs, which are generally managed by BlackRock, the ETF issuer’s parent company and a major global asset manager.

BlackRock is listed as the company in the reporting package for this ETF launch, consistent with its role as the underlying ETF manager behind iShares-branded funds. BlackRock’s platform and index and portfolio management capabilities have made it one of the largest ETF providers in North America and globally, though the specific portfolio details for XBAI were not provided in the short announcement text relayed in the market feed.

While the headline and description clearly identify the fund’s strategy focus (A.I. innovation and technology) and its active management designation, key operational details were not disclosed in the excerpt available to this report. That includes items investors often look for at launch such as the fund’s expense ratio, benchmark or reference methodology (if any), specific holdings or target allocations, and whether it uses futures, options, or other instruments to manage exposure.

The launch also comes amid a wider retail and institutional shift toward investment products tied to technology and artificial intelligence themes. Even when an ETF is not index-based, the “theme” framing can influence how the product is marketed and how investors evaluate performance drivers, especially during periods of fast-moving market sentiment around A.I. related equities.

For now, the public details captured in the market feed appear limited to the fund name, ticker, launch timing, and its stated investment focus. The company did not disclose, in the text visible here, any performance history (expectedly none at launch), portfolio turnover expectations, or specific risk constraints that could matter for investors comparing XBAI with broader technology funds.

The next practical step for market participants is to review the fund’s official prospectus and product documentation once they are available, to confirm holdings methodology, fee structure, valuation and trading mechanics, and any unique risks tied to an actively managed A.I. and technology mandate. That documentation will also clarify how “innovation and tech” is defined in portfolio construction and what the manager prioritizes across the underlying companies.