The Bett Brasil 2026, Latin America’s largest event on Innovation and Technology in Education, kicked off this Tuesday morning (the 5th) in São Paulo, bringing to the forefront one of the most relevant debates in the education sector: how to effectively integrate individual, collective, and artificial intelligence to transform the present and future of education.

The opening panel brought together leaders from different sectors: public administration, the private sector, and the nonprofit sector. In addition, the event featured Eugênia, a humanoid robot who served as a catalyst for reflection on how society should engage with new technologies in a deliberate, rather than passive, manner. “The future of education has already begun, and it’s more about what humans are willing to change. The real challenge may not be technological, but rather human,” was the message Eugênia left behind.

The opening ceremony was attended by Claudia Valério, director of Bett Brasil; Juliana Velho, chief of staff at the São Paulo State Department of Education; Ana Úngari Dal Fabbro, general coordinator of Technology and Innovation in Basic Education at the Ministry of Education (MEC); Priscila Cruz, president and co-founder of Todos pela Educação; Débora Garofalo, an international authority on education recognized as the world’s most influential educator; and Marlene Schneider, president of SIEEESP. The discussion was moderated by Juliana Nunes, manager of Digital Journalism at EBC (Agência Brasil).

Technology at the Service of People

Claudia Valério emphasized that, although technology is advancing at a pace that’s hard to keep up with, it cannot exist without people. “Our goal throughout this week at Bett Brasil is precisely to foster this interaction and discuss its impact on daily life in schools, on educators, and on students. Technology only makes sense when it serves people. When it helps solve schools’ daily challenges and frees up time for what is irreplaceable: human connection. Otherwise, technology becomes just noise,” the executive noted.

Challenges in the Brazilian Educational Landscape

Débora Garofalo pointed out that, despite technological advances, Brazil still faces significant challenges. The educator emphasized that technology is often treated merely as a tool, when it should also be a subject of study. In addition, she mentioned mental health issues as a major complicating factor in the digital context.

Juliana Velho emphasized the human impact of public technology policies. “Giving a child the opportunity to dream is the most important thing we can do. When we talk about technology, we think of numbers and data, but what matters most is what we’re providing to a child who previously had no access and now does,” she said.

Education about technology, not just with technology

Ana Úngari Dal Fabbro advocated for a shift in perspective: “We need to move beyond technology as a learning tool and move toward education about technology and artificial intelligence.” For her, the goal is to educate citizens who are creators of technology—ethical, critical, and creative—capable of navigating technological changes over time without losing sight of what really matters.

Learning is relational and requires human effort

Priscila Cruz offered a critical reflection on the limitations of technology in the teaching-and-learning process. According to her, the belief that technology facilitates learning may have been detrimental to education. “Learning is relational. We learn by interacting with other people. Any shortcut that does not respect the way we learn ends up undermining the educational process,” she said.

The expert also emphasized the importance of valuing teachers as leaders in the educational process. For Priscila, learning requires both cognitive and biological effort, and technology cannot—nor should it—replace that role.

Marlene Schneider emphasized that she believes in both public and private education in Brazil. “The challenges are great, but I believe we will continue to achieve ever-higher standards of education for our students.”

More than 47,000 people are expected to attend Bett Brasil 2026, which will feature more than 450 speakers and 13 concurrent sessions, cementing the fair’s status as one of the premier gathering places for those who shape and build the nation’s education system.

The program runs through May 8, with free admission; registration is available on the event's official website.

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