BRIDGE Roadshow lands in Osaka, igniting global dialogue on AI and media innovation

Dubai: Following successful stops in New York and London, the BRIDGE Roadshow continued its global momentum with a dynamic third chapter in Osaka.

Organised by the UAE National Media Office (NMO) and powered by the Bridge Alliance, the initiative is building a worldwide platform for transformative conversations at the intersection of media, technology, and cross-cultural collaboration.

The event is part of the lead-up to BRIDGE Summit 2025, set to take place in Abu Dhabi from Dec. 8—10, a landmark gathering that will unite media professionals, policymakers, cultural creators, and global influencers to reshape how the world communicates.

Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Office and the UAE Media Council, said; “The sessions in Osaka underscored the critical need to blend innovation with authenticity. We must adopt AI tools while preserving the ethical foundations of journalism. BRIDGE 2025 in Abu Dhabi will serve as a platform to launch strategic partnerships that elevate media as a key driver of sustainable development and long-term prosperity.”

Al Hamad emphasised the UAE’s unwavering support for transformative media initiatives like BRIDGE, which he described as vital instruments for cross-cultural dialogue and global awareness.

“The dynamic and productive engagement in Osaka sets the stage for BRIDGE’s next chapter — contributing to a unified vision for building influential, future-ready media that can navigate global transformations and shape a more informed, connected world,” he noted.

Dr Jamal Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, Director General of the UAE National Media Office, added: BRIDGE exists to navigate this new reality, to bring together media creators and global stakeholders with a shared mission to build trust, transparency, and impact. The BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi will be a platform where we unite ideas and ambitions to tackle the challenges of our time, create purposeful media, and drive meaningful solutions for a connected, ethical world.”

As the host of Expo 2025, Osaka proved an ideal setting for the Roadshow’s Japan edition. The event welcomed over 30 of the country’s top media, tech, and finance leaders for high-impact sessions on AI, ethical storytelling, and the future of content.

One standout session, “Who’s Cashing In on the Truth Deficit?”, featured a candid discussion between Leika Kihara, Chief Correspondent of Japan Policy at Reuters Japan, and Wendy Siew, Senior VP at WPP Media Japan. Together, they tackled how media must reclaim trust in a landscape saturated by algorithm-driven content and public scepticism.

Another highlight, “Thinking Machines, Feeling Minds: AI’s Next Frontier”, was led by Dr. Hiro Hamada of ARAYA Inc., who examined how AI is reshaping human perception, agency, and narrative power in the digital age.

Curated networking sessions brought together cultural producers, policymakers, and media executives — reinforcing Japan’s role as a global leader in balancing innovation with tradition.

Each BRIDGE Roadshow stop contributes to ‘Connecting Conversations’, an evolving series of insights that are informing the agenda for December’s summit.

Future events in Shanghai and other major cities will continue the conversation, addressing emerging themes in cross-cultural storytelling, platform integrity, and collaborative innovation.

BRIDGE Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi will bring together the full spectrum of global media actors, from artists, influencers, and content creators to investors, policymakers, and tech leaders to forge powerful, purpose-driven collaborations. This historic summit will be a space where thought leadership meets business innovation, and where the future of communication is not only imagined, but actively built.