In this episode of EdTech Elevated, Lisa March sits down with Mike Hale, Ph.D., Chief Learning Officer at VitalSource, to explore the evolving role of AI in education. Mike shares how VitalSource is leveraging AI to accelerate learning, support faculty, and scale evidence-based practices grounded in learning science. From intelligent tutoring systems to real-time decision-making data, he explains how AI tools can enhance—not replace—effective teaching and learning. They also discuss common misconceptions about AI promoting "lazy learning" and the importance of human oversight in maintaining quality and rigor. As Mike puts it, the way people learn hasn't changed—but the tools available to help them have improved dramatically. He also gives us a look into the near future, forecasting both an explosion and eventual refinement of AI tools in edtech. Whether you're an educator, administrator, or tech innovator, this conversation offers practical insights into where education is heading—and what we should be paying attention to now.