BETT 2026 Day One: From AI Hype to Human Impact in Education

Cris Bloomfield - ExCeL London

Day One of BETT 2026 set a clear and confident tone for the future of education technology. The sector has moved decisively beyond the question of whether AI belongs in education. The focus is now firmly on how it can be used ethically, equitably, and at scale to improve learning, teaching, and inclusion.

Across keynotes, panels, and practitioner-led sessions, one message came through consistently: the real value of AI in education lies not in replacing educators, but in amplifying human expertise.

From Hype to Practice: AI in the Classroom

Generative AI is no longer theoretical. Speakers and practitioners shared examples of how schools and teachers are already experimenting with AI tools to:

• Reduce administrative workload

• Personalise learning pathways

• Support lesson planning, feedback, and assessment

What’s changed is not just the availability of the technology, but its proximity to everyday classroom practice.

However, this rapid adoption brings a growing sense of urgency around AI literacy. While students are quickly embracing AI tools, many educators lack structured support to understand how these systems work, where their limitations lie, and how to use them responsibly.

The consensus across sessions was clear: AI capability must become a core professional skill for educators, not an optional extra.

Ethics, Trust, and Safeguarding

Ethics ran as a strong and serious thread throughout the day. As AI becomes embedded in teaching and assessment, speakers highlighted the responsibility that comes with adoption, particularly around:

• Bias in AI-generated content

• Transparency and explain-ability of AI systems

• Data protection and student privacy

• The environmental and social cost of large-scale AI

A recurring message was that ethical AI cannot be bolted on later. Schools and education providers need clear, practical frameworks that prioritise safeguarding, fairness, and accountability from the outset - especially where children and young people are concerned.

Equity, Inclusion, and Access

Several contributors challenged the sector to confront a difficult truth: without deliberate action, AI risks widening existing inequalities in education.

While AI has enormous potential to support learners with additional needs, students with English as an Additional Language (EAL), and those requiring more personalised support, this promise will only be realised if:

• Access to tools is equitable

• Training is consistent across regions and settings

• Digital and infrastructure gaps are actively addressed

There was a strong call for collaboration between policymakers, technology providers, and schools to ensure AI enhances opportunity rather than reinforcing disadvantage.

Teachers at the Centre

Perhaps the strongest message from Day One was the reaffirmation that teachers remain central to the future of education. AI was repeatedly framed as:

• A co-pilot, not a replacement

• A way to free up time for high-value human interaction

• A tool to restore creativity, curiosity, and connection in teaching

Several speakers warned that without proper support, AI risks becoming yet another pressure on an already stretched workforce. With the right investment and governance, however, it could play a meaningful role in addressing workload, retention, and wellbeing challenges across the profession.

Voices from the Day

A few quotes captured the mood particularly well:

• The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education:“We will always need the human touch.”

• Professor Hannah Fry:“We are at the bottom of an exponential curve with AI ahead of us. AI is going to fundamentally reshape society in every way.”

• Sal Khan, Khan Academy: “Our focus is on engagement. With a clear ambition to help teachers enjoy their work again and to make learning more engaging for students."

  
  

An Initiative Worth Backing: AI Awareness Day

One initiative that stood out was AI Awareness Day, taking place on 4 June 2026.

The focus is on encouraging schools to run activities that raise awareness and understanding of AI - helping ensure informed, age-appropriate conversations are happening with young people, not just about using AI, but about living in an AI-enabled world.

Looking Ahead

Day One of BETT 2026 made one thing very clear: the future of education is human-led, with AI as a powerful enabler.

For us at ICS.AI, the opportunity lies in supporting educators and institutions to navigate this transformation with confidence, clarity, and care - embedding AI in ways that are practical, ethical, inclusive, and grounded in real educational outcomes.

BETT 2026 is not about chasing the next shiny tool. It’s about building the foundations for an education system where technology genuinely works for teachers, learners, and society as a whole.

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