ESC20 AI Summit 2026

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future-facing buzzword — it's already running on the devices in your students' hands. In this session, Brannon Stegall, Apple's Pre-Sales Systems Engineer for K–12 education, takes a comprehensive look at how Apple hardware and software are reshaping what AI-powered learning looks like in the classroom.

From accessing the world's most capable frontier models to harnessing Apple Intelligence features built directly into macOS and iOS, to running powerful AI models entirely on-device — no cloud, no connectivity required — this session covers the full AI landscape as it exists on Apple devices today. Special focus is given to the MacBook Neo, Apple's purpose-built education Mac, and what its architecture means for the next generation of AI-capable classrooms.

What you'll explore:

Frontier models — Using ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other leading AI services on Apple hardware, and how to do it responsibly in a district setting.
Apple Intelligence — The built-in AI capabilities in macOS and iOS: Writing Tools, image generation, Siri enhancements, and privacy-first processing with Private Cloud Compute.
Edge AI on Mac — A hands-on deep dive into running open-weight AI models locally on MacBook Neo — offline, private, and faster than you'd expect.
Key Takeaways:

Understand the difference between cloud AI, Apple Intelligence, and on-device/edge AI — and when each is the right tool for your district.
See the MacBook Neo's Apple Silicon architecture in action for real AI workloads relevant to education.
Walk away with a practical framework for evaluating AI use in your schools — from policy and privacy to pedagogy.
Gain confidence to lead AI conversations with teachers, administrators, and your school board.

What does it look like to build a working AI agent - not a chatbot, but a system that knows your context, learns from your corrections, and takes action on your behalf? In this session, SCUC ISD Technology Director Steve Barnwell walks through his 6 month journey building "Kirow," a personal AI agent based on the recent and controversial OpenClaw tool. Learn about security, skills, harnesses, the history that led to personal agents, and future applications in K-12.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future-facing buzzword — it's already running on the devices in your students' hands. In this session, Brannon Stegall, Apple's Pre-Sales Systems Engineer for K–12 education, takes a comprehensive look at how Apple hardware and software are reshaping what AI-powered learning looks like in the classroom.

From accessing the world's most capable frontier models to harnessing Apple Intelligence features built directly into macOS and iOS, to running powerful AI models entirely on-device — no cloud, no connectivity required — this session covers the full AI landscape as it exists on Apple devices today. Special focus is given to the MacBook Neo, Apple's purpose-built education Mac, and what its architecture means for the next generation of AI-capable classrooms.

What you'll explore:

Frontier models — Using ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other leading AI services on Apple hardware, and how to do it responsibly in a district setting.
Apple Intelligence — The built-in AI capabilities in macOS and iOS: Writing Tools, image generation, Siri enhancements, and privacy-first processing with Private Cloud Compute.
Edge AI on Mac — A hands-on deep dive into running open-weight AI models locally on MacBook Neo — offline, private, and faster than you'd expect.
Key Takeaways:

Understand the difference between cloud AI, Apple Intelligence, and on-device/edge AI — and when each is the right tool for your district.
See the MacBook Neo's Apple Silicon architecture in action for real AI workloads relevant to education.
Walk away with a practical framework for evaluating AI use in your schools — from policy and privacy to pedagogy.
Gain confidence to lead AI conversations with teachers, administrators, and your school board.