Tech Break by Friday

Paraskevi Kivroglou

Hey there! I'm Paraskevi (fun fact: my name means "Friday" in Greek), and this is where I share all my thoughts and discoveries about the tech world that fascinates me. From the latest in AI to game-changing productivity tips, I'm here to explore how we can make technology work for us while keeping the human touch alive. My mission is simple: to help bridge the tech skills gap by sharing knowledge freely and accessibly. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your tech game, I'm here to help you navigate this digital landscape with confidence. If you're curious about how to embrace the digital age without losing the joy in life, come along for the ride - I'd love to have you join me on this journey! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tech.break.by.friday/ Personal Website: https://paraskevikivroglou.com/ kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com

  1. Episode 29: Cursor vs Gemini Code Assistant

    6 SEP

    Episode 29: Cursor vs Gemini Code Assistant

    Tech Break by Friday — Episode 29: Developer Friendly #2: Cursor vs Gemini Code Assistant In this episode, we’re taking a hands-on look at two of the hottest AI coding tools right now: Cursor and Gemini Code Assist. These next-generation assistants promise to boost developer productivity, streamline coding workflows, and help both individuals and teams get more done—so how do they actually stack up? You’ll get my first-hand experience putting both AI agents to the test. I’ll break down their IDE interfaces, plans, and unique features, plus what really surprised me in recent updates, especially from Google and its latest releases on privacy and enterprise options. We’ll walk through a real-world challenge I gave both tools: building an embedded podcast player for my website. Hear what each agent did well (and where one of them fell short). If you’re a business owner or IT decision-maker, stay tuned: I’ll dig into the data privacy, security, and compliance policies for both Cursor and Gemini Code Assist, and share what matters most for organizations moving their workflows to AI. You’ll get clear, actionable insights on which tool might best fit your team, from pricing and management to threat protection and integration. Ready to level up your dev stack or just curious what it’s like letting AI code for you? This episode is packed with practical results, tips, and a few lessons learned. If you’re getting value from the show, remember: you can take your learning even further by joining our AI community, details inside. Plus, see the full write-up with screenshots and bonus content on Substack!https://kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com/p/episode-29-cursor-vs-gemini-codehttps://www.skool.com/ai-advantage-club-5848/about?ref=ea33f41093ac4038b613ad633f87add4 Don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen, and leave a review if you’re enjoying the podcast! Your support fuels more deep dives and honest reviews in the world of AI and tech.Media:Spotify | Instagram | Apple Podcasts | X Sources:https://codeassist.google/ https://cloud.google.com/gemini/docs/codeassist/security-privacy-compliance https://cursor.com/ https://cloud.google.com/gemini/docs/codeassist/overview https://www.reco.ai/learn/cursor-security https://ona.com/stories/secure-enterprise-cursor-dev-environments https://cursor.com/enterprise https://bb.com.tr/en/blog/software-development/is-cursor-safe-are-your-code-data-truly-protected This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com

    18 min
  2. 29 AGO

    Episode 28: Is Adobe in trouble of Nano-Banana?

    Tech Break by Friday — Episode 28: Exploring Nano Banana, Google’s Next-Gen AI Image Model In this episode, we dive into Nano Banana, the groundbreaking AI image editing model developed by Google DeepMind and integrated into the Gemini app. Discover how this cutting-edge technology enables users to edit images with simple natural language commands while preserving key details like faces and backgrounds across multiple edits. We'll explore Nano Banana’s innovative features, from seamless multi-image blending and advanced reasoning to its speed and precision that set it apart from traditional image editors. Learn how this technology is reshaping the future of AI-powered visual content creation, challenging tools like Adobe Photoshop and Canva.If you've been getting value from this podcast, here's something that'll take your learning to the next level. Inside, you're not just getting more content - you're working alongside other entrepreneurs who are actually building AI-powered businesses. You get daily implementations from real businesses, direct feedback on your ideas, weekly live Q&As where I personally break down your questions, and networking with people who are serious about results, not just consumption. https://www.skool.com/ai-advantage-club-5848/about?ref=ea33f41093ac4038b613ad633f87add4 Whether you're an AI enthusiast, creative professional, or simply curious about the latest tech, this episode breaks down the remarkable capabilities of Nano Banana and what it means for image editing and design workflows.Bonus: Check out our detailed Substack post featuring all the details for a deeper dive: https://kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com/p/episode-28-is-adobe-in-trouble-of Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite platform, and don’t forget to leave a review! Your support keeps the podcast going and brings fresh insights into AI and technology every week.Sources: https://lnkd.in/geBUSNCs https://blog.google/products/gemini/updated-image-editing-model/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpUk5OetUN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6ZXujE1qBAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zvk4AMCrG https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/26/google-geminis-ai-image-model-gets-a-bananas-upgrade/ https://lmarena.ai/leaderboard/image-edit https://bylo.ai/features/gemini-2.5-flash-image-preview This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com

    19 min
  3. 22 AGO

    Episode 27: LLMs get tools? = MCP

    In this episode of Tech Break by Friday, we dive into the Model Context Protocol (MCP) — the game-changing technology that lets AI tools like chatbots and apps seamlessly connect with services like Gmail and Google Drive. Learn how MCP simplifies AI integrations, boosts security, and opens up exciting possibilities for automation. Plus, we walk through a beginner-friendly MCP project using aci.dev so you can build your own AI-powered workflows. Whether you’re curious about AI or a tech enthusiast, this episode breaks down the future of AI-tool connections in an easy-to-understand way. Substack Post for everyone who wants to see the commands and code: https://kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com/p/episode-27-llms-get-tools-mcp Subscribe to or follow the podcast and leave a review. It helps us continue to bring you exciting news and content each week in the AI and tech space. Media:Spotify | Instagram | Apple Podcasts | X Sources: https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners https://www.descope.com/learn/post/mcp https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers https://www.anthropic.com/news/model-context-protocolhttps://arxiv.org/abs/2504.08999 https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.23278 Connect with High-Value Listeners Who Take Action Email us at techbreakbyfriday@gmail.com to sponsor the podcast. If you'd like to know more about the Skool community, please don't hesitate to let me know.. https://www.skool.com/ai-advantage-club-5848/about?ref=ea33f41093ac4038b613ad633f87add4 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com

    16 min
  4. Episode 26: Context Engineering over Prompting?

    15 AGO

    Episode 26: Context Engineering over Prompting?

    Welcome back to Tech Break by Friday. I promise to make it up to you for missing a week on uploading an episode. Today’s topic is a really exciting one for me. We talk about Context Engineering, and it changes the way we talk and think about AI. This is why some AI tools can provide the answer you need based on your situation, acting as a personal guide. Well, some other tools make you throw away your laptop, and you seem to get nowhere. Have you ever asked ChatGPT or another AI tool to help with something specific to your business, only to get a response that's technically correct but completely useless? Like asking for help with your marketing strategy and getting generic advice that could apply to literally any business on the planet? That's not a model problem - that's a context problem. And today, we're going to solve it. Here's a wild stat for you: According to industry leaders like Andrej Karpathy, who co-founded OpenAI, most AI failures aren't because the AI isn't smart enough. The issue is that the AI doesn't have the correct information at the right time. Think about it like this - imagine hiring the world's most talented personal assistant, but every morning they walk into work with complete amnesia. I don’t remember yesterday, no understanding of your business, no access to your files or contacts. How helpful would they actually be? That's how we've been using AI. And Context Engineering is how we fix it. Substack Post: https://open.substack.com/pub/kivroglouparaskevi/p/context-engineering-over-prompting?r=56ehxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Media:Spotify | Instagram | Apple Podcasts | X Sources: https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.13334 .https://www.philschmid.de/context-engineering llamaindex langchain https://x.com/tobi/status/1935533422589399127 https://www.perplexity.ai/ https://claude.ai/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com

    19 min
  5. Episode 25: Opal - Google's Card to the Automation Market

    4 AGO

    Episode 25: Opal - Google's Card to the Automation Market

    Hello everyone. What’s up? Welcome back to Tech Break by Friday. In this episode, we discuss the potential benefits of a new tool called Opal. Opal is an agentic solution for creating mini AI-powered apps and automation. Let’s dive in and explore how to use this tool effectively, as well as what the future might hold. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button so you never miss our next deep dive into the tech shaping tomorrow. This podcast grows with your support, so we would love it if you could share it with a friend or colleague who might also find it helpful. Until next time, keep experimenting, keep learning, and keep building! Blog Post to read everything I mentioned in this episode about Opal. https://open.substack.com/pub/kivroglouparaskevi/p/opal-googles-card-to-the-automation?r=56ehxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Media:Spotify | Instagram | Apple Podcasts | X Sources: * https://developers.googleblog.com/en/introducing-opal/ * https://opal.withgoogle.com/?flow=drive:/1Tp8qBH2QujcyIDxiyHrKX7xQI19AtneX&mode=app&shared=true * https://www.mach37.com/blog/token-economy * https://www.abatherapistjobs.com/applied-behaviour-analysis/token-economy * https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/googles-opal-changes-game-agents-automation-tara-tan-gysaf/ * https://www.infoq.com/news/2025/07/google-opal-ai/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com

    14 min
  6. Episode 23 [Bonus]: Virtual Human Economy

    23 JUL · CONTENIDO EXTRA

    Episode 23 [Bonus]: Virtual Human Economy

    Hello everyone. What’s up? Welcome back to Tech Break by Friday. This is a bonus episode, and today we're discussing a topic that may sound dystopian to many of you. Imagine waking up tomorrow to find that your digital twin has been working all night, answering customer questions for three different companies, teaching Spanish to students in Brazil, and even negotiating a brand partnership deal. This isn't science fiction anymore, it's the Virtual Human Economy, and it's starting right now. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button so you never miss our next deep dive into the tech shaping tomorrow. This podcast grows with your support, so we would love it if you could share it with a friend or colleague who might also find it helpful. Until next time, keep experimenting, keep learning, and keep building! Blog Post to read everything I mentioned in this episode about Virtual Human Economy.Blog Post Thanks for reading Tech Break by Friday! This post is free so you can share it with people you think will find it interesting. Media:Spotify | Instagram | Apple Podcasts | X Sources: 1. https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/what-is-a-digital-twin * https://www.digitaltwinconsortium.org/initiatives/the-definition-of-a-digital-twin/ * https://hourone.ai/blog/the-virtual-human-economy/ * https://odsc.medium.com/the-rise-of-the-virtual-human-economy-and-its-implications-dff073a8fb05 * https://theindependentinvestor.ph/natalie-monbiot-a-pioneer-in-the-virtual-human-economy-2/ * https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2023/06/08/from-science-fiction-to-reality-how-digital-humans-are-forging-new-realities/ * https://creativitysquared.com/podcast/ep39-natalie-monbiot-genai-the-virtual-human-economy/ * https://kognito.com/blog/7-advantages-of-learning-with-virtual-humans/ * https://wuab.org/magazine-articles/virtual-economy-a-complete-overview/ * https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0267364911000896 * https://www.chinadailyhk.com/hk/article/291378 * https://vertu.com/ai-tools/digital-human-use-cases-transforming-industries-2025/?srsltid=AfmBOop5imDch8BLetTXZaFfW3pCX4gfvBHXga3j-auAIp-SEtcvPmgR * https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/use-cases/digital-humans/ * https://opendatascience.com/the-rise-of-the-virtual-human-economy-and-its-implications/ * https://theindependentinvestor.ph/natalie-monbiot-a-pioneer-in-the-virtual-human-economy-2/ * https://nttdata-solutions.com/us/blog/digital-humans-humanizing-technology-and-improving-user-experiences/ * https://www.cognizant.com/us/en/insights/insights-blog/how-digital-humans-can-provide-personalized-experiences-at-scale-wf2398000 * https://arxiv.org/pdf/2311.09226 * https://www.christophejauquet.com/post/digital-humans * https://www.synthesia.io/post/digital-humans * https://personalvalu.es/articles/exploring-personal-values-through-ai-conversations * https://medium.com/@uneeq/will-people-trust-a-digital-human-the-same-way-they-trust-people-f3647a318079 * https://journal-bcs.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s13173-021-00121-x * https://www.firework.com/blog/what-is-a-digital-human * https://pure.hud.ac.uk/en/publications/the-value-creation-potential-of-digital-humans This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com

    19 min

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Hey there! I'm Paraskevi (fun fact: my name means "Friday" in Greek), and this is where I share all my thoughts and discoveries about the tech world that fascinates me. From the latest in AI to game-changing productivity tips, I'm here to explore how we can make technology work for us while keeping the human touch alive. My mission is simple: to help bridge the tech skills gap by sharing knowledge freely and accessibly. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your tech game, I'm here to help you navigate this digital landscape with confidence. If you're curious about how to embrace the digital age without losing the joy in life, come along for the ride - I'd love to have you join me on this journey! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tech.break.by.friday/ Personal Website: https://paraskevikivroglou.com/ kivroglouparaskevi.substack.com