All right, welcome to explAInED! We are thrilled to host Adam Sparks, co-founder and CEO of Short Answer, back on the podcast for a deep dive into the evolving world of educational technology. We discuss the current pressures and aspirations surrounding edtech, exploring Adam's aspirational vision for a future that combines self-paced, mastery-based instruction with AI affordances like scalable oral assessment to actualize best practices. Adam shares his view that the debate needs more nuance, arguing that lawmaker frustration is often misdirected toward removing tools like Chromebooks rather than focusing on critical reforms like standardizing Data Privacy Agreements. Finally, we unpack the concept that technology is simply an "amplification of human intent" and look at critical, often overlooked arguments for edtech, including its power to support neurodivergent students and reduce teacher burnout