From “Browsing” to “Co-piloting”: What BETT 2026 reminded us about AI, children, and the future of learning
At BETT 2026, one moment stayed with me more than any demo or meeting: watching children experience new technology up close.
They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t overthink. They simply explored with a kind of natural confidence that most adults have to relearn. You could see genuine amazement, curiosity, and excitement as they interacted with what’s next. And it reminded me of something important: children are not “adapting” to this new world, they’re growing up inside it.
For many of us, the turning point was the internet. Then search engines. Then the idea that the world’s knowledge could be found in seconds. Today, that reality is the baseline. What’s changing now is the interface between humans and knowledge: it’s becoming more conversational, more creative, and increasingly powered by AI.
That’s why the role of education, and the responsibility of those who support it, is more important than ever. At jp.ik, we don’t want to fight innovation or slow progress. We want to help schools and learners live with it intelligently: preparing students in a safe and meaningful way, and supporting teachers with tools that genuinely help, not distract.
AI will be part of everyday learning. The question is whether it will be introduced with intention. This is where Copilot+ PCs matter. Not as a trend, but as a signal of a new era in computing: where AI becomes integrated into the experience, enabling students to explore ideas faster and helping educators reduce friction in their day-to-day work. In the right context, with the right guidance, these tools can make learning more engaging, more accessible, and more relevant to the world students are actually living in.
At BETT, jp.ik showcased our new jp.ik Copilot+ PCs line, devices designed to bring on-device AI into the classroom with performance, responsiveness, and practical everyday value. For students, this means faster creation, smarter support for ideation and expression, and smoother workflows for projects. For teachers, it means less friction in lesson preparation and classroom tasks AI-assisted productivity that supports, rather than disrupting teaching.
Most importantly, on-device AI helps keep learning more reliable and controlled in school environments, with capabilities that don’t depend on a constant connection. In short: these Copilot+ PCs are important because they help schools adopt AI with intention: securely, purposefully, and at scale.
But the biggest takeaway from BETT 2026 wasn’t technology itself. It was the reminder that education is where society decides how technology will be used with critical thinking, responsibility, and purpose.
Children are ready for what’s next. Our job, is to make sure what’s next is safe, empowering, and truly educational, alongside incredible partners like Microsoft, who continue to evolve the platform and tools that make this future possible.
Jorge Castilho
Director of Product and Solutions at jp.ik
