The Dubai AI Festival 2025 is proud to welcome Richard Lui, a trailblazing journalist, documentary filmmaker, technology innovator, and bestselling author, as a keynote speaker. With a rare career spanning over three decades across media, technology, and business, Lui brings a deeply human and cross-disciplinary perspective to the evolving global conversation on inclusion, ethics, AI, and caregiving innovation.
From breaking newsrooms to boardrooms, White House screenings to United Nations summits, Lui’s work continues to redefine leadership at the intersection of social justice, storytelling, and digital transformation.
A Trailblazer in Journalism and Public Storytelling
Richard Lui is the first and longest-serving Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) male news anchor on U.S. national television, with roles at MSNBC/NBC News and formerly CNN Worldwide. Beyond the anchor desk, Lui is also an acclaimed documentary filmmaker, with a powerful focus on underrepresented communities and the care economy.
His films include:
- Sky Blossom (2021) – an Oscars-qualifying film honoring military caregivers, featured at the White House, U.S. Congress, the U.N., and European Parliament
- UNCONDITIONAL (2023) – a heartfelt exploration of caregiving and mental health, with nationwide distribution by Universal Pictures and AMC Theatres
His storytelling work is known for its empathy, authenticity, and ability to drive national conversations on inclusion, aging, and public service.
From Tech Entrepreneur to Social Impact Strategist
Before entering journalism, Richard Lui spent 15 years in business and technology, launching six brands across three tech cycles, and even patenting a fintech payments model with Citibank Singapore. He has since served on the boards of fintech and AI companies, leveraging his business acumen to champion innovation in ethics, impact, and digital inclusion.
Lui is:
- A Senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund
- A Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors
- A U.S. State Department Traveling Speaker, one of only 200 appointed
- An ambassador for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, AARP, and the Alzheimer’s Association
He also authored the bestselling and award-winning book Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness and released the globally cited Inclusion@Work reports, launched at Davos, CES, SXSW, and Cannes Lions.
Keynote at Dubai AI Festival 2025: “AI, Inclusion, and the Care Economy – Designing a Future That Serves All”
At the Dubai AI Festival 2025, Richard Lui will deliver a keynote titled:
“AI, Inclusion, and the Care Economy: Designing a Future That Serves All.”
This compelling session will explore:
- How AI can uplift invisible labor markets like caregiving and unpaid domestic work
- The critical role of ethical storytelling and inclusive design in AI systems
- The intersection of gender, race, and aging in digital transformation
- Lessons from the frontline of media, policy, and human-centered technology
His keynote will inspire policymakers, technologists, social entrepreneurs, and storytellers to build AI ecosystems that are equitable, purpose-driven, and globally inclusive.
Richard Lui’s participation at the Dubai AI Festival 2025 offers a vital reminder: that behind every algorithm is a story—and the future of AI must be one where humanity, dignity, and care are part of the code.
