On-Prem vs Frontier Models - AI Security & Capability Trade Offs

Adopting AI beyond the classroom is a procurement decision IT leaders face right now, and most are making it without a clear framework. This workshop moves past the chatbot-in-the-classroom conversation to explore AI as infrastructure: powering workflows, orchestrating agents and tackling real operational problems for district technology teams. Putting these tools to work means touching staff data, student records and live systems. Frontier API models offer power and capability, but data governance becomes a matter of DPA negotiations with big vendors. Local, open-source models fit existing district security practices but may trade away features and tool-calling that make agentic AI truly useful. You will explore a decision framework built around cost, security, features and future needs, illustrated by a live pilot underway with a district technology team, including its wins, failures and next steps. You will leave with a replicable approach for weighing these trade-offs and making your own procurement and implementation decision. All workshops are BYOD and require All Access or Session + Registration to attend.