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Bett 2025: How Education and Technology Shape Our Future

5 min read

February 4, 2025

"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." – Kofi Annan

Education remains one of the most powerful forces for shaping society and advancing human progress. It is through education that individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed to build their future and contribute to the development of their communities. To achieve this, it is essential to continuously redefine educational goals and content, as human and societal progress are deeply intertwined. By combining pedagogical, psychological, and innovative approaches, education nurtures individuals capable of self-realisation and leadership in human development. Without a solid educational foundation, society risks stagnation and diminished growth.

Additionally, education's direction is largely influenced by national policies, which shape how individuals understand their role in societal progress. Ensuring access to education is not just about academic learning; it’s about empowerment, equality, and giving people the tools to thrive as active participants in social and economic life. Yet, despite its importance, educational opportunities remain unequal across the world.

Table of contents

The global education gap
The role of EdTech and AI in transforming education
Exploring partnerships at Bett 2025
Stephen Fry warns of AI's risks and potential: "It must declare itself"
The future of education and technology

The global education gap

While education has made great strides globally, many children are still left behind. According to UNESCO's 2024 data, 251 million children around the world remain out of school. However, progress has been made since the UN adopted the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Education in 2015. Over 110 million children have gained access to schooling, and secondary school completion rates have improved, with 40 million more young people graduating compared to 2015.

Despite these achievements, serious challenges remain. Inequalities in education persist, with low-income countries struggling to provide access to quality learning environments. Furthermore, debts and funding shortfalls hinder efforts to improve education systems. Addressing these disparities requires not only financial investment but also innovative strategies to overcome barriers to learning access. Fortunately, one area offering hope for the future is educational technology.

The role of EdTech and AI in transforming education

Advancements in educational technology (edtech) are reshaping how education is delivered and accessed globally. Innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) are enabling new learning systems and tools that can personalise education, making it more effective and accessible, especially in remote and underserved areas. These technologies offer opportunities for bridging the gap between traditional educational models and the needs of a rapidly changing world.

At Digital Samba, we are committed to exploring these emerging trends and incorporating them into our offerings. Our video conferencing API powers modern pre-built, white-label virtual classrooms designed to meet the evolving demands of e-learning. These classrooms can be easily integrated into any learning management system (LMS), whether through the Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) standard launched last year or via our flexible API. This adaptability makes Digital Samba a leading solution for educators and institutions seeking innovative ways to connect and engage learners

Exploring partnerships at Bett 2025

To stay ahead of new developments in the education and technology sector, our team attended Bett 2025, the world’s largest edtech conference, held from 22 to 24 January at London’s ExCel Exhibition Centre. The event brought together over 30,000 attendees, including educators, innovators, and global leaders from more than 100 countries.

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Bett showcased how emerging technologies like AI and esports are reshaping education and inspiring new approaches to teaching and learning. Participants had the opportunity to attend keynote speeches from thought leaders, engage in hands-on workshops, and explore groundbreaking exhibits. The conference also provided unparalleled networking opportunities for those looking to drive educational innovation.

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For us, Bett 2025 was a valuable opportunity to explore potential partnerships, particularly in integrating Digital Samba’s virtual classroom solution into major LMS platforms as a fixed part of their portfolio. We had an opportunity to speak and connect with representatives from amazing companies in the education sector, including Tldraw, Google, Eummena, Vedubox, Edulink, Moodle, Padlet, Itslearning, Classter, Edtake, Wiris, AQA, Lumino, Canva, PowerSchool, Nagarro, edf, Pi Education, and more. Talking to these LMS experts helped us understand which additional features and gadgets would enable Digital Samba to stand out and enrich the teachers' usability when it comes to e-learning. Strengthening these collaborations is a key part of our mission to empower educators with cutting-edge tools that enable high-quality, accessible education worldwide.

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Stephen Fry warns of AI's risks and potential: "It must declare itself"

The opening keynote this year was held by Sir Stephen Fry who has cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) is vulnerable to being "contaminated" by the hatred, manipulation, and negativity present in human society. Speaking at the Bett Show in London, the 67-year-old actor and comedian likened AI to water, warning that it could become polluted with "raw sewage and chemicals and all kinds of nonsense." He expressed concerns that children, through apps and social media, are exposed to a "polluted" flow of communication filled with harmful content, a risk AI is not immune to.

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Fry emphasised the dangers of AI being controlled by powerful entities—countries, corporations, or even criminals—and warned that the technology could "ruin" the experience of being alive by doing "too much." He called for transparency, asserting that AI should "declare itself" and not mislead people into believing falsehoods or doubting truths. However, Fry also acknowledged AI's potential in education, suggesting that it could engage students effectively through the Socratic method, though he expressed a "deep worry" about the technology being filled with "meaningless and useless nonsense."

The future of education and technology

As technology continues to evolve, it will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of education. Bridging educational gaps and fostering equal opportunities for learners everywhere requires a combination of innovative solutions, strategic partnerships, and effective policy support. By staying at the forefront of technological advancements, Digital Samba aims to help create a more connected, empowered world where education is a driving force for progress.

If you are looking to integrate a modern, powerful virtual classroom into your LMS with numerous pre-built features, we would be happy to advise you on how Digital Samba can be tailored to your unique needs and seamlessly integrated into your system.

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