{"id":40129,"date":"2026-01-29T16:06:49","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T21:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/?p=40129"},"modified":"2026-02-06T07:05:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T12:05:04","slug":"filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/","title":{"rendered":"Filtering Today in 2026: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#00afd7;color:#00afd7\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-299d6537c935c57b6be36a259b14a689\" id=\"h-tl-dr-how-should-k-12-filtering-adapt-in-2026\" style=\"color:#00afd7\">TL;DR \u2014 How should K\u201312 filtering adapt in 2026?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-118fc771071b4c428aa43cccf80aab73\" style=\"color:#00afd7\">K\u201312 web filtering in 2026 must combine foundational categorization with real-time, behavior-based detection to keep pace with AI-generated content, rapidly changing proxies, and domain-sharing platforms\u2014<em>without <\/em>increasing IT workload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-eba7c7330ea57dd8bbd4e91297847c09\" style=\"color:#00afd7\"><strong>Key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-31ce321efec689f9e7f45f1acef197b6\" style=\"color:#00afd7\">Categories provide consistency; real-time analysis catches new or changing content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-309b87d5dc107274440cd12fc94e2242\" style=\"color:#00afd7\">Behavior-based proxy detection is now essential to stop modern bypass techniques<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bc4f806d9c368202594c1aafe6d3d191\" style=\"color:#00afd7\">Frame- and video-level blurring protect students inside legitimate resources<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6252d4726051371751d27ae41744a980\" style=\"color:#00afd7\">AI usage requires governance, auditability, and visibility\u2014not just blocking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4cee51f3cb89db8f56ee3fc62dac488e\" style=\"color:#00afd7\">The right filtering strategy reduces \u201cwhack-a-mole\u201d and gives IT teams time back<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-background\" style=\"background-color:#00afd7;color:#00afd7\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the past few years, web filtering has fundamentally changed. What used to be a relatively static exercise\u2014categorize content, apply a policy, move on\u2014has become a real-time challenge shaped by AI, anonymization tools, and an explosion of user-generated platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our recent webinar, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/resources\/webinars\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Filtering Today: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies,<\/a> Colin McCabe and I talked about what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Filtering Today: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GM0M0VMktbE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The short version? The old \u201cwhack-a-mole\u201d approach isn\u2019t working anymore\u2014and it\u2019s costing IT teams time they simply don\u2019t have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-cybersecurity-no-longer-just-a-corporate-problem\">Why is cybersecurity no longer just a \u201ccorporate\u201d problem?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Short answer: <\/strong>Because student internet use no longer resembles traditional browsing, and visibility gaps now create real risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cybersecurity in education is no longer theoretical or isolated. Students interact with a complex mix of VPNs, proxies, domain-sharing platforms, AI tools, and content generated inside productivity suites. Even when access is restricted, students still operate freely inside the guardrails schools create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the January 29, 2026 webinar poll, responses to whether districts had experienced a cybersecurity incident landed at a 50\/50 split\u2014a meaningful signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matthew Burg, VP of Product for IT Solutions, clarified an important misconception:<br>Cyber incidents aren\u2019t limited to ransomware. They also include phishing, credential theft, malware, and compromised sites\u2014events that may appear minor individually but can carry serious consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Section takeaway:<\/strong> You cannot protect students from threats you cannot see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-categories-and-real-time-filtering-work-together-in-2026\">How do categories and real-time filtering work together in 2026?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Short answer:<\/strong> Categories create a stable baseline; real-time analysis closes the gaps categories cannot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Categorization remains foundational. It ensures consistency for educators and students and provides the predictable structure schools rely on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But modern content is increasingly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Created on demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Modified after categorization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Designed to evade static controls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why effective filtering now requires multiple layers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Device-level enforcement via agents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tamper resistance, especially on Windows devices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zero-day protection through cybersecurity integrations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A real-time layer that evaluates uncategorized or changing content<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Section takeaway:<\/strong> Categories are the backbone. Real-time detection is the safety net. You need both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-are-proxies-and-domain-sharing-sites-still-the-biggest-bypass-risk\">Why are proxies and domain-sharing sites still the biggest bypass risk?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Short answer:<\/strong> Because they look legitimate long enough to earn trust\u2014then change behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When attendees were asked to identify their biggest filtering headache, proxies and domain-sharing sites were the clear outliers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Platforms like Google Sites make this especially challenging. Pages can appear benign, become categorized as safe, and later change behavior to function as proxies. This fuels the familiar \u201cwhack-a-mole\u201d cycle of manual blocking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern filtering must evaluate how content behaves, not just where it\u2019s hosted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Section takeaway:<\/strong> Static trust models fail when content can change faster than categorization cycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-cybersecurity-capabilities-discussed-in-the-webinar\">Cybersecurity capabilities discussed in the webinar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-real-time-proxy-detection-and-blocking-coming-soon\">Real-time proxy detection and blocking (coming soon)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Real-Time Proxy Blocking Without the False Positives\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Zkqn_yFXrWI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We discussed why AI-only proxy classification often leads to false positives. Market figures commonly cite ~75% accuracy, which sounds strong until you consider the scale of student traffic and the disruption caused by incorrect blocks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, behavior-based detection looks for the&nbsp;signals&nbsp;proxies require&nbsp;to&nbsp;operate\u2014such as JavaScript patterns, headers, and page structure\u2014allowing enforcement to remain effective while keeping false positives low enough to run continuously.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expected outcome:<\/strong>&nbsp;Instant enforcement without breaking legitimate access.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-security-insights-dashboard\">Security Insights dashboard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Security Insights Dashboard: Turning Security Data Into Actionable Insights\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2cGupA2yy6E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Raw logs are valuable, but most IT teams&nbsp;don\u2019t&nbsp;have time to manually analyze them. Security Insights surfaces trends first\u2014such as phishing or malware spikes\u2014and then connects those trends directly to users and devices for fast investigation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expected outcome:<\/strong>&nbsp;Visibility without log fatigue.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-is-ai-changing-web-safety-in-schools\">How is AI changing web safety in schools?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-how-is-ai-changing-web-safety-in-schools-short-answer-ai-is-already-everywhere-governance-and-visibility-are-what-s-missing\"><strong>Short answer:<\/strong> AI is already everywhere; governance and visibility are what\u2019s missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students are using AI tools whether schools explicitly allow them or not\u2014at home, on personal devices, and increasingly as part of daily learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two challenges consistently surfaced:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Limited visibility into which AI tools students are using<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compliance and privacy concerns around vendor data models and guardrails<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We also discussed a key data point: over one-third of teens using AI report encountering uncomfortable or risky situations while testing boundaries (as of January 29, 2026).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AI literacy is becoming a workforce expectation, yet unmanaged access introduces risk. This tension is why governance frameworks matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"h-how-is-ai-changing-web-safety-in-schools\"><strong>Section takeaway:<\/strong> Blocking AI doesn\u2019t solve the problem\u2014managed visibility does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ai-safety-capabilities-discussed\">AI safety capabilities discussed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-smart-ai-framework-and-ai-blueprint\">SMART AI Framework and AI Blueprint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We introduced the SMART AI Framework\u2014developed with district input\u2014to help schools establish governance around safety, management, and accountability. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/ebook\/ai-blueprint-building-safe-and-smart-ai-in-k-12\/\">AI Blueprint provides a practical starting point for adopting AI in K\u201312 districts.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ai-prompt-capture\">AI Prompt Capture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"AI Prompt Capture: Giving Schools Visibility Into Student AI Use\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wK_GHWOltEg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>AI Prompt Capture provides auditability into AI prompts and responses\u2014visibility many AI vendors do not offer\u2014while maintaining appropriate privacy controls and role-based access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expected outcome: <\/strong>Insight without turning AI oversight into surveillance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-image-blurring-and-frame-by-frame-video-blurring-smart-play\">Image blurring and frame-by-frame video blurring (Smart Play)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Image &amp; Video Blurring: Safer Access Without Sacrificing Flexibility\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pxq4gHODY7Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Inappropriate imagery can appear inside otherwise legitimate resources. Frame-level analysis adds protection without requiring schools to block entire platforms. Controls can be tuned by category and sensitivity to avoid classroom disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Expected outcome:<\/strong> Broader access with fewer accidental exposures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-should-schools-extend-safety-beyond-campus\">How should schools extend safety beyond campus?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Short answer: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/persona\/parents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parent engagement<\/a> must add value without adding administrative burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When managed devices go home, parents want visibility and control\u2014but excessive detail can overwhelm both families and schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-parent-engagement-updates\">Parent engagement updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Smarter Parent Controls in Lightspeed Filter: Schedules, Categories, and Flexibility\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hPPLKjW5Ne4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We discussed upcoming Parent Portal enhancements, including expanded categories, site blocking, scheduling tools, and admin-level controls over deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Section takeaway:<\/strong> Effective parent engagement supports safety without turning schools into help desks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-any-district-can-do-now-tool-agnostic\">What any district can do now (tool-agnostic)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Maintain categorization as a baseline for consistency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add real-time analysis for uncategorized or changing content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish AI governance frameworks before scaling access<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test filters against behavior changes, not just URLs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-lightspeed-systems-specifically-offers\">What Lightspeed Systems specifically offers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Global categorization plus real-time analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Behavior-based proxy detection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Security Insights reporting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SMART AI Framework, AI Blueprint, and Prompt Capture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frame-level image and video blurring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Parent engagement tools with admin oversight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-takeaway\">Final takeaway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Filtering in 2026 is no longer about blocking websites. It\u2019s about <strong>maintaining visibility, enforcing intelligently, and reducing operational burden<\/strong>\u2014even as content, AI, and bypass techniques evolve faster than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-webinar-q-amp-a-highlights-nbsp\">Webinar Q&amp;A highlights&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We wrapped up the session by answering questions from attendees. A few themes came up consistently, so&nbsp;I\u2019ve&nbsp;shared some of the most&nbsp;common questions (and our responses) below.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Q:<\/strong> <strong>How do you handle brand-new or uncategorized websites?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Matthew: <\/strong>This is where real-time analysis really matters. Relying solely on pre-defined categories means you\u2019re always waiting for classification to catch up. Real-time inspection allows the system to evaluate content and behavior as it\u2019s accessed, even if the site has never been seen before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Q:<\/strong> <strong>Are Google Sites and similar platforms becoming a bigger issue?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Colin: <\/strong>Yes, absolutely. Platforms like Google Sites make it incredibly easy to create legitimate-looking pages very quickly. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to evaluate how content is being used, not just where it\u2019s hosted. Treating every site on a trusted platform as automatically safe creates blind spots.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Q: Why is blocking proxies so difficult?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Matthew:<\/strong> The challenge is that proxies are designed to change constantly. New URLs appear every day. If you\u2019re blocking by URL alone, you\u2019ll never fully catch up. Behavior-based detection\u2014looking at how traffic is being routed and anonymized\u2014is far more effective than chasing individual sites.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Q: Does AI make filtering harder or easier?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Colin:<\/strong> Both. AI accelerates content creation, which adds complexity. But it also enables smarter filtering by allowing systems to analyze content and behavior at scale. The key is using AI to reduce manual effort, not add to it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Q: What\u2019s the biggest mistake IT teams make with filtering today?<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Matthew:<\/strong> Trying to solve modern problems with legacy tools. The web has changed dramatically, and filtering needs to change with it. Solutions that rely heavily on static lists and manual updates just aren\u2019t built for today\u2019s environment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our recent webinar, Filtering Today: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies, Colin McCabe and I talked about what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":40127,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Filtering","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Filtering Today in 2026 %%page%% | %%sitename%%","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Our recent webinar covers what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[114,10,15],"class_list":["post-40129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-it-management","tag-lightspeed-filter","tag-web-content-filtering"],"acf":{"authors":[18686]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Filtering Today in 2026 | Lightspeed Systems<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our recent webinar covers what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Filtering Today in 2026: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Our recent webinar covers what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Lightspeed Systems\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lightspeedsystems\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-29T21:06:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-06T12:05:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1084\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"gracemellette\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@lightspeedsys\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@lightspeedsys\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Colin McCabe\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"gracemellette\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/a996dc5e11a575f0b42c0e12340978aa\"},\"headline\":\"Filtering Today in 2026: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\u00a0\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-29T21:06:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-06T12:05:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\"},\"wordCount\":1468,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png\",\"keywords\":[\"IT Management\",\"Lightspeed Filter\u2122\",\"Web Content Filtering\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Uncategorized\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\",\"name\":\"Filtering Today in 2026 | Lightspeed Systems\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-29T21:06:49+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-06T12:05:04+00:00\",\"description\":\"Our recent webinar covers what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1084,\"caption\":\"Filtering Today: Navigating AI, Proxies, Emerging Technologies\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Filtering Today in 2026: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\u00a0\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/\",\"name\":\"Lightspeed Systems\",\"description\":\"Helping K-12 communities provide safe, secure, and equitable education\u2014effortlessly.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Lightspeed Systems\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/lightspeed_systems_logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/lightspeed_systems_logo.svg\",\"caption\":\"Lightspeed Systems\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lightspeedsystems\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/lightspeedsys\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/lightspeed-systems\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/a996dc5e11a575f0b42c0e12340978aa\",\"name\":\"gracemellette\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/618018ae54f6cabf8dcfeba46b0734c9b0a3e36b133a10a6130d917ad395cbd9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/618018ae54f6cabf8dcfeba46b0734c9b0a3e36b133a10a6130d917ad395cbd9?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"gracemellette\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/person\/colin-mccabe\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Filtering Today in 2026 | Lightspeed Systems","description":"Our recent webinar covers what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Filtering Today in 2026: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\u00a0","og_description":"Our recent webinar covers what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/","og_site_name":"Lightspeed Systems","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lightspeedsystems\/","article_published_time":"2026-01-29T21:06:49+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-06T12:05:04+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1084,"url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"gracemellette","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@lightspeedsys","twitter_site":"@lightspeedsys","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Colin McCabe","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/"},"author":{"name":"gracemellette","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/a996dc5e11a575f0b42c0e12340978aa"},"headline":"Filtering Today in 2026: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\u00a0","datePublished":"2026-01-29T21:06:49+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-06T12:05:04+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/"},"wordCount":1468,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png","keywords":["IT Management","Lightspeed Filter\u2122","Web Content Filtering"],"articleSection":["Uncategorized"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/","name":"Filtering Today in 2026 | Lightspeed Systems","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png","datePublished":"2026-01-29T21:06:49+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-06T12:05:04+00:00","description":"Our recent webinar covers what we\u2019re seeing in the field, what customers are struggling with, and how filtering has to evolve to keep pace.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/POWERPNT_27EZZCAGLv.png","width":1920,"height":1084,"caption":"Filtering Today: Navigating AI, Proxies, Emerging Technologies"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/blog\/filtering-today-navigating-ai-proxies-and-emerging-technologies\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Filtering Today in 2026: Navigating AI, Proxies, and Emerging Technologies\u00a0"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/","name":"Lightspeed Systems","description":"Helping K-12 communities provide safe, secure, and equitable education\u2014effortlessly.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#organization","name":"Lightspeed Systems","url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/lightspeed_systems_logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/lightspeed_systems_logo.svg","caption":"Lightspeed Systems"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lightspeedsystems\/","https:\/\/x.com\/lightspeedsys","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/lightspeed-systems\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/a996dc5e11a575f0b42c0e12340978aa","name":"gracemellette","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/zh\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/618018ae54f6cabf8dcfeba46b0734c9b0a3e36b133a10a6130d917ad395cbd9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/618018ae54f6cabf8dcfeba46b0734c9b0a3e36b133a10a6130d917ad395cbd9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"gracemellette"},"url":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/person\/colin-mccabe\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40129\/revisions"}],"acf:post":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/person\/18686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40127"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lightspeedsystems.com\/en_uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}