Breakeven Brothers

In our final episode of 2025, we're taking a look back at what was dubbed 'the year of the agents' and peering into what 2026 might hold. The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into a potential paradigm shift: the rise of AI 'skills.' We explore Anthropic's big push for this new framework, contrasting it with existing tool-calling and MCP server approaches. Are skills just a more user-friendly way to package domain knowledge, or are they a fundamental change in how we'll build with AI? We break down the pros and cons, from context window preservation to ease of sharing in a marketplace.Beyond the theoretical, we get into the latest industry drama and developments. We tackle the heated online debate surrounding Claude Opus 4.5—is Anthropic secretly downgrading its flagship model, or are user expectations simply rising? We also cover the release of Google's impressively fast Gemini 3 Flash, a major NPM supply chain attack that compromised thousands of repositories, and the exciting new visual editor and debug mode features from Cursor that could change the front-end development workflow. Join us as we wrap up the year with the biggest stories and share our favorite resources to take into the new year.Chapters:00:00 End of Year and AI Music Licensing02:43 Anthropic and OpenAI Introduce "Skills"12:01 The Opus 4.5 Downgrade Controversy19:14 Google's New Gemini 3 Flash Model21:50 Recent Supply Chain Attack on Developers26:39 Cursor's New Visual Editor and Debug Mode31:11 Bookmarks: Building Skills and Email Triage34:15 Wrapping Up 2025 and Holiday PlansLinks:- Suno AI: Ben mentions he used Suno AI, an AI music generation tool, to create the podcast's current theme song and pays a monthly subscription to maintain the commercial license.- Highcharts: A paid JavaScript charting library mentioned as an example of a tool with a commercial license that operates on an 'honor system,' similar to Suno AI.- Chart.js: The free, open-source alternative to Highcharts that Brad switched to for his project, Split My Expenses.- Cursor IDE: The AI-first code editor discussed for its new features, including a visual editor for front-end development and an automated debug mode.- Anthropic: Don't Build Agents, Build Skills Instead: Brad's bookmark: An Anthropic presentation on the AI Engineer YouTube channel titled 'Don't Build Agents, Build Skills Instead,' which argues for a shift in how developers leverage AI.- LangChain YouTube Channel: Ben's bookmark: A deep-dive video from LangChain's YouTube channel about building an agent for email triage, a practical application of AI for managing high-volume inboxes.#AIPodcast #Anthropic #AISkills #SoftwareDevelopment #Cybersecurity #CursorIDE #AIAgents #GeminiAI #TechNews #LangChainCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

The Breakeven Brothers are back after the holiday break, sharing stories from Thanksgiving travels and post-holiday shopping. Bradley kicks things off with a major announcement: the SplitMyExpenses Android app is finally live! He shares the challenging, and often frustrating, journey of navigating the Google Play Store for the first time, contrasting it with his experience on iOS and celebrating the milestone of being available on all major platforms.From there, the conversation dives headfirst into the whirlwind of recent AI developments. Just days after their last recording, Anthropic released the incredibly powerful Claude Opus 4.5, and the brothers break down why it's a potential game-changer, especially for developers using tools like Cursor. They also explore Google's stunningly realistic new image model: Nano Banana Pro and discuss OpenAI's swift response with Codex Max. This rapid-fire competition leads to a discussion about OpenAI's rumored "code red" to refocus efforts on ChatGPT amidst user decline, raising questions about who will ultimately win the AI race.Chapters:00:09 Introduction and Thanksgiving Recap02:12 Black Friday Shopping and AI Try-Ons04:10 Launching the SplitMyExpenses Android App10:31 Google's New Gemini 3 Pro Model17:39 Nano Banana Pro's Realistic Images22:11 OpenAI's Agentic Codex Max Model24:52 Anthropic's Incredible Opus 4.5 Release38:48 Anthropic's Bun Acquisition and IPO Rumors43:33 OpenAI Declares a 'Code Red'Links:- SplitMyExpenses on Android- SplitMyExpenses on iOS- Bradley Bernard's Blog- Back Market- Google's SynthID Watermark- The Boring Marketer#AI #TechPodcast #Claude4.5Opus #GoogleImagen #OpenAI #AndroidDev #IndieHacker #SoftwareEngineering #Anthropic #DeveloperToolsCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

Brad is back from the grind and finally has something to show for his 4 AM coding sessions: the official SplitMyExpenses iOS app is live on the App Store! He shares the entire journey, from the initial manual coding attempts to leveraging AI tools like Claude Code that dramatically accelerated his development pace and expanded the app's feature set. Ben also dives into his own coding project, detailing how he rebuilt his accounting firm's website from scratch, ditching Squarespace for a custom solution powered by Cursor's new "plan mode." The brothers compare notes on how indispensable AI has become in their workflows, feeling almost handicapped without it.The conversation then zooms out to the broader AI landscape, dissecting the pros and cons of different models and why Ben finally decided to cancel his Claude subscription. With hype reaching a fever pitch, they speculate on the imminent release of Google's Gemini 3.0, discussing what it needs to deliver to be a true game-changer in terms of intelligence, speed, and cost. To wrap up, they explore a fascinating and potentially alarming theory from "The Big Short's" Michael Burry about an AI bubble fueled by misleading accounting practices, leaving listeners to ponder if the current AI boom is built on a solid foundation or a house of cards.Chapters:00:10 Catching Up and New Haircuts02:05 Brad Launches Split My Expenses App05:32 How AI Transformed App Development15:36 Ben Rebuilds His Website with AI20:50 Deep Dive into AI Coding Tools28:49 Anticipating Google's Gemini 3.0 Release34:28 Bookmarks: AI Bubbles and iPhone SocksLinks:- SplitMyExpenses on the iOS App Store- Catalyst CFO Website- Render Hosting- Cursor - The AI-first Code Editor- Seeking Alpha: Michael Burry and the AI Bubble- Cursor Presentation: How We Trained Our Model#AIPodcast #TechPodcast #IndieDev #ReactNativeDev #CursorAI #Gemini3 #AIbubble #SoftwareEngineering #AppLaunch #SideHustleCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

The Breakeven Brothers are finally back! After another hiatus filled with cross-continental travel, surprise kitten fostering, and a whole lot of life, Bradley and Bennett jump right back into the deep end. We kick things off with stories from Brad's trip to Korea—navigating rainy weddings and constant hotel hopping—and Bennett's unexpected turn as a foster dad to a tiny kitten that wandered into his backyard. These adventures set the stage for a much larger conversation about how quickly things can change, especially in the world of AI.Once we're settled, we dive into a wild new technique from DeepSeek that turns text into images just to... turn it back into text? It sounds crazy, but this 10x compression trick could fundamentally solve one of AI's biggest frustrations: why our agents seem to get dumber the longer we talk to them. This sparks a huge debate about OpenAI's new browser, ChatGPT Atlas. Is it a revolutionary agent that will plan our trips and buy our groceries, or a massive security risk waiting to happen? Brad also gives us a firsthand report from an exclusive "Claude Code Anonymous" meetup in San Francisco, sharing the secrets behind a 700-line master prompt that gets near-perfect results. Tune in for a packed episode covering everything from AI walled gardens to the future of how we browse the web.Chapters:00:00 Back from Hiatus & Personal Updates04:11 DeepSeek's Text-to-Image Compression13:15 OpenAI's New Agentic Browser: ChatGPT Atlas20:38 Security Concerns with Agentic Browsers33:20 Takeaways from Claude Code Anonymous in SF40:16 Bookmarks: Meta vs. AI & Cursor's Plan Mode43:54 Conclusion & wrap upLinks:- Meta Banning Rival AI Chatbots on WhatsApp- Cursor's New "Plan Mode"#AI #TechPodcast #OpenAI #ChatGPTAtlas #DeepSeek #ClaudeAI #AICoding #ContextWindow #AIAgents #BrowserWarsCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

For our dirty 30, we're unpacking some of the biggest AI news of the year, coming at you fresh on the same day it dropped. OpenAI just held their DevDay, and to say they dropped a bombshell would be an understatement. We’re giving our live, unfiltered reactions to a tidal wave of new releases that genuinely knocked it out of the park. From an App Store-like ecosystem built directly into ChatGPT to some wild new revenue estimates (is a billion dollars a month even real?), OpenAI is building a platform that’s impossible to ignore.Join us as we dive into the game-changing tools that could reshape the AI landscape. Ever wanted to build a powerful, custom agent without writing a single line of code? We break down the new Agent Builder and the live demo where they built and deployed one in under eight minutes. Plus, we were blown away by what might be the coolest live tech demo we've ever seen, involving stage cameras, lighting, and an Xbox controller, all prompted into existence on the spot. We also cover the API releases for Sora 2 and GPT-5 Pro and discuss what this all means for developers, non-technical creators, and the future of building.Chapters:00:09 Introduction: OpenAI's Big DevDay01:32 High-Level DevDay Announcements06:52 Building Apps within ChatGPT18:49 The No-Code Agent Builder Kit27:49 Sora 2 & GPT-5 Pro API Updates35:13 The Impressive Live Codex Demo45:44 Final Thoughts & Funny Bookmarks50:38 ConclusionLinks:- Sunny Madra's Tweet on OpenAI's Revenue- OpenAI DevDay Opening Keynote- Kitze Tweet about MCP- Sora 2 Video of Sam Altman stealing Studio Ghibli#OpenAI #DevDay #ChatGPT #AgentKit #Codex #Sora2 #GPT5Pro #NoCodeAI #AIPodcast #TechReactionCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

The Brothers are back! After a much-needed month-long break filled with wedding anniversaries, unfortunate illnesses, and a trip to Hawaii, Bradley and Bennett return to find the AI world has moved at lightning speed. They waste no time diving headfirst into a tool that has defined white-collar work for decades: Excel. With Anthropic's Claude now able to work directly with spreadsheets, is this the game-changing moment accountants have been waiting for, or is it merely a "Band-Aid" on a workflow that's about to be made obsolete by autonomous AI agents? Bennett puts on his tinfoil hat for a bold prediction that could change the future of knowledge work forever.The debate then shifts from the spreadsheet to the command line, where a civil war is brewing in the world of AI coding assistants. After a "golden period" where Claude Code was the undisputed champion, a recent dip in performance has opened the door for a revitalized competitor: OpenAI's Codex. Bradley breaks down why developers are losing faith in Claude and flocking to its rival, exploring the high-stakes showdown between the two platforms. From groundbreaking new features to scary security vulnerabilities and our predictions for the rest of the year, this episode is a jam-packed catch-up on everything you need to know in the world of AI.Chapters:00:09 Introduction: Catching Up02:36 Claude's New Excel Integration06:31 Hot Take: Is Excel Obsolete?12:05 The Rise of Autonomous AI Agents18:35 Adapting to an AI-Driven Workforce27:16 Microsoft Copilot Integrates Anthropic Models32:56 The Claude Code vs. Codex Debate48:17 AI Predictions & Security Risks54:58 ConclusionLinks:- Bennett's YouTube Channel: Augmented Accounting- Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Al Sweigart- Python for Finance by Yves Hilpisch- Microsoft & Anthropic Partnership (thedecoder.com)- Google Calendar OpenAI ChatGPT MCP Server Vulnerability#AI #Excel #FutureOfWork #ClaudeCode #CodexCLI #AccountingTech #DeveloperTools #Programming #TechPodcast #AnthropicCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

A bombshell MIT study just dropped, claiming 95% of companies get ZERO return on their AI investments. Is the hype bubble finally bursting, or is there a deeper story the headlines are missing? In this episode, we're calling BS on the doom-and-gloom narrative. Drawing from our own in-the-trenches experience building an app with AI, we break down why these studies might be flawed and reveal the massive "learning gap" that's holding most people back from unlocking AI's true potential. It's not the models that are failing; it’s how we're being taught to use them.The AI drama doesn't stop there. We're unpacking all the latest chaos from Silicon Valley, from Meta slamming the brakes on its billion-dollar hiring spree to the shocking rumor that Apple might actually use Google's Gemini to power the next generation of Siri. We also dive into a new trend for developers: can you really monetize your expertise by selling $9 AI rules? We debate that and the growing battle against "AI slop" in open source before tackling a big question for the professional world: are junior accountants about to start doing a manager's job right out of college? Tune in for our unfiltered take on the hype, the reality, and where we're all headed.Chapters:00:00 Introduction01:37 The Reality of AI Investment ROI14:58 Monetizing Expertise by Selling Cursor Rules23:19 Meta's Billion-Dollar AI Hiring Freeze34:27 Apple Considers Google Gemini for Siri43:34 Disclosing AI-Generated Code Contributions51:06 How AI is Reshaping Junior Roles1:05:54 Bookmarks: AI Workflows and Scrapers1:12:49 Wrapping UpLinks:- SplitMyExpenses - Axios article- Cursor rules- Laravel Boost- Ghostty Terminal- PwC Article on the Future of Junior Accountants- Peter Steinberger's "AI Dev Workflow" Blog Post- Report Reveals Internal Chaos Behind Apple's Siri Failure - MacRumors- Apple Explores Using Google Gemini AI to Power Revamped Siri- Marc Colbrugu's Tweet on Cloudflare#TechPodcast #AINews #AIROI #SoftwareEngineering #MetaHiringFreeze #FutureOfWork #AppleGemini #AICodingTools #Productivity #DeveloperPodcastCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

The Death Star has arrived... or has it? This week, we're diving headfirst into the most anticipated AI launch of the year: OpenAI's GPT-5. After weeks of incredible hype, including some wild pre-launch marketing from Sam Altman himself, we finally got our hands on the new flagship model. We're here to give you our unfiltered, boots-on-the-ground review. Was it the mind-blowing leap in intelligence we were all expecting, or did the reality fall short of the promises? We unpack the bumpy rollout, the confusing new "thinking" modes that took away our control, and the one change that has us scratching our heads and asking, "who asked for this?"But the conversation doesn't stop at GPT-5. We put the new model to the test in our own workflows, revealing its surprising strengths and one "painfully slow" weakness that might be a dealbreaker for daily use. We also stack it up against the competition, debating whether Claude Code still holds the crown for developers and if Google's Veo was secretly the most impressive release. Plus, Bradley reveals a game-changing productivity hack involving a speech-to-text tool that has him shipping features faster than ever. Tune in for a jam-packed discussion on the current state of the AI race, the drama shaking up the industry, and our verdict on whether GPT-5 is truly worth the hype.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to GPT-5 Release03:05 Initial Reactions and Expectations05:42 User Experience and Performance Insights08:42 Model Selection and User Control11:34 Temperature Settings and Flexibility14:27 Comparative Analysis with Other Models17:22 Open Source Models and Community Feedback20:14 Future of AI Models and User Expectations22:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts33:13 Dreaming of Opus Five38:07 The Future of Coding Intelligence40:34 Navigating AI in Development44:32 Unlocking Productivity with Voice51:01 Industry Insights and AI ImpactLinks:- WisprFlow- Windsurf layoffs - Google AI search impact on businesses- Incredible new Apple ringtone#GPT5Review #OpenAI #ClaudeCode #TechPodcast #AIProductivity #DeveloperTools #CursorAI #AIFails #PromptEngineering #TechReviewCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host (00:00) - Introduction to GPT-5 Release (03:05) - Initial Reactions and Expectations (05:42) - User Experience and Performance Insights (08:42) - Model Selection and User Control (11:34) - Temperature Settings and Flexibility (14:27) - Comparative Analysis with Other Models (17:22) - Open Source Models and Community Feedback (20:14) - Future of AI Models and User Expectations (22:59) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts (33:13) - Dreaming of Opus Five (38:07) - The Future of Coding Intelligence (40:34) - Navigating AI in Development (44:32) - Unlocking Productivity with Voice (51:01) - Industry Insights and AI Impact

It's the official mid-year reality check! We're dusting off our 2025 bingo card to see which of our wild predictions have actually come true. Did a solo founder get that billion-dollar offer? Are robot cop-dogs with machine guns a thing now? And what ever happened to Bennett's homemade salsa ambitions? We tally the points (and half-points) and laugh at what we were thinking just a few months ago. Before we get to the scorecard, we vent about our recent coding frustrations—from a brutal React Native bug to the eternal search for quality AI content on YouTube—and shout out a couple of creators who are actually getting it right.Once the predictions are settled, we dive into the main event: the rapidly shifting landscape of AI agents. OpenAI just dropped its highly-anticipated Agent, but does it live up to the "get coffee while it works" hype? We peel back the layers on what it can *actually* do and where it still falls short. Then, we tackle the Claude Code saga. We've been asking for months if their pricing was sustainable, and it looks like we finally have an answer. Anthropic is rolling out major changes to its "unlimited" plans, and we break down what these new limits mean for developers, the future of AI coding assistants, and the one user who was costing them tens of thousands of dollars a month.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates04:44 Bingo Card Recap: Mid-Year Check-In20:40 OpenAI Agents: Initial Reactions and Insights33:45 Navigating AI and Automation Limits37:02 Claude Code Updates and User Experience40:55 Pricing Strategies and User Impact44:26 Quality Concerns and User Adaptation49:42 Innovations in Cloud Code Sub-Agents52:26 Future Predictions and Market DynamicsLinks:- AI Jason- Garret Love- Comet Browser from Perplexity- Firecrawl - Anthropic AI subreddit- OpenAI Agent controlling a security camera- 7 useful Claude Code sub-agents#TechPodcast #ClaudeCode #OpenAIAgents #AI #FuturePredictions #TechStartups #LangGraph #Coding #Anthropic #AITrendsCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

After a surprisingly affordable and delicious trip to Vancouver, we're back and diving headfirst into the AI world's latest obsession: the talent war. Meta is swinging for the fences, reportedly dropping $100 million offers to poach top researchers from OpenAI. This has sparked a war of words, with OpenAI framing it as "stealing" and pitting their "missionaries" against Meta's "mercenaries." We break down the strategies, the ethics, and the sheer audacity of these moves. Is Meta making a desperate play to catch up, or is this a brilliant power move to build an unstoppable super intelligence team? We also go on a wild tangent to connect the dots between Elon's various companies, culminating in Bennett's sci-fi conspiracy theory that you have to hear to believe.The battle isn't just for people; it's for performance. We explore the flood of new model releases, from the mind-bogglingly large Kimi K2 to the controversial Grok-4, and debate what truly matters more: raw intelligence or flawless "tool calling" capabilities. This hits close to home as Bradley, a Claude Code power user, shares his frustrating story of finally hitting the hard limit on his "unlimited" plan. Is the golden age of infinite AI coding coming to an end? We wrap up by dissecting the dramatic downfall of Windsurf, the AI IDE once courted by OpenAI, and how its top talent ended up at Google, leaving the rest of the team in the lurch. It's an episode packed with big money, big models, and even bigger drama.Chapters00:00 Introduction: Summer Travels and Culinary Adventures05:37 The AI Talent War: Meta vs OpenAI20:13 Emerging AI Models and Tool Calling Innovations38:16 The Future of Human-Machine Integration44:57 The Impact of AI Saturation on Users51:16 The Windsurf Acquisition and Its ImplicationsLinks:- Kimi AI Chat- Article on the Windsurf Acquisition- Google's MCP Toolbox- Claude-Code-Kimi-Grok#TechPodcast #ArtificialIntelligence #AITalentWar #ClaudeCode #KimiAI #ToolCalling #SoftwareEngineering #OpenAI #AcquiHire #BreakevenBrothersCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

One year in the books! We're popping the non-alcoholic champagne to celebrate the first anniversary of the Breakeven Brothers podcast. In that time, the AI landscape has shifted from a gentle tremor to a full-blown earthquake, and in this episode, we're navigating the aftershocks. The AI arms race is escalating, with tech giants like Meta opening up their wallets for jaw-dropping nine-figure paydays to poach top talent directly from OpenAI. We dive into the strategies, the insane sign-on bonuses, and what this means for the future of AI development.But the corporate warfare doesn't stop at talent. We also uncover the shocking deals being made to power these AI ambitions—we're talking multi-year contracts for *nuclear energy* just to keep the data centers humming. On the ground level, we debate the red-hot AI CLI battle, why one of us is happily spending $200 a month on a single coding tool, and whether coding from your phone is a dream come true or a work-life balance nightmare. Tune in as we discuss the shift from "prompt engineering" to "context engineering" and try to make sense of a world where AI bots are scraping 60,000 web pages for a single query.(00:00) - Intro (03:00) - AI Developments and OpenAI's New Releases (05:34) - The Rise of Mobile AI Applications (11:19) - Exploring the CLI Landscape for AI Agents (16:48) - Meta's Talent Acquisition and the AI Arms Race (31:29) - Talent Wars in AI Companies (35:31) - The Role of AI in Social Media (39:10) - Energy Needs for AI Development (41:28) - Quantum Computing: The Next Frontier (43:50) - The Shift from Prompt Engineering to Context Engineering (48:12) - AI's Impact on Content Creation and Publishing Links:- OpenAI's Deep Research Models & Prompt Rewriter- Cursor's Mobile App Announcement- Anthropic's Blog Post on Claude Code Usage- Andrej Karpathy's "Context Engineering" Tweet- Mark Gurman's Apple Report- MKBHD's Quantum Computing Video- Adrian from Simple Analytics' Tip (Bookmark)- Justin Anderson's Profile & OpenAI Cookbook Link (Bookmark)#AI #TechPodcast #ClaudeCode #AITalent #OpenAI #ContextEngineering #AICoding #AIEnergy #AISlop #BreakevenBrothersCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

On this Michael Jordan episode (23!), we kick things off with a classic tale of a "five-minute" project gone wrong. Bradley shares his ambitious attempt at a parking lot car battery replacement that quickly turned into a 30-minute fishing expedition for a single lost part. Meanwhile, Bennett recounts a white-knuckle flight experience made even more stressful by a massive, internet-wide outage. What happens when the Google Cloud services that underpin everything suddenly go dark right before your flight? We dive into the chaos, what caused it, and what it reveals about our dependency on just a handful of tech giants.That tech meltdown is the perfect launchpad for our main event: getting our hands dirty building with the latest AI. Bennett gives his firsthand review of Google's new Agent Development Kit (ADK), comparing its simplicity to the granular control of LangGraph. We explore the frontiers of multi-agent workflows and the tricky art of getting them to actually talk to each other. Then, Brad details his journey of building a custom MCP server from scratch and reveals how he’s squeezed over $1,400 of value from his AI coding assistant this month alone. With tools this powerful, we have to ask the big question: Is the era of traditional SaaS over? Tune in to hear our take on the future of custom software and what it truly means to be a builder in the age of AI.(00:00) - Introductions & updates (03:00) - Flying Fears and Internet Outages (05:52) - AI Model Releases and Developments (08:43) - Exploring Google ADK and Agent Development (11:36) - MCPs and Their Role in AI Agents (14:41) - Multi-Agent Frameworks and Structures (24:49) - Navigating Agent Handoffs and Protocols (29:23) - Challenges with OAuth and Authentication (34:44) - Comparing Google ADK and LangGraph (42:19) - Building an MCP Server for Laravel Telescope (47:29) - The Future of Natural Language Interaction (51:51) - Cost Analysis of Using Cloud Code (53:13) - The Rise of AI Tools in Development (55:44) - The Future of SaaS: Cloning vs. Custom Solutions (58:54) - The Shift from Subscription to One-Time Payments (01:04:19) - The Evolution of AI Workflows and Automation (01:08:04) - The Importance of Building vs. Consuming AI Tools (01:12:18) - Navigating Complex AI Tasks and Future Interactions Links:- Bradley's Telescope MCP Server- LangChain's Interrupt Conference Videos- Claude Code's MCP servers- ONCE by 37signals- Levels.fyi Tweet about Cursor outage- Apple's "The Illusion of Thinking in LLMs" Paper#AI #SoftwareDevelopment #GoogleADK #LangGraph #ClaudeAI #TechPodcast #DeveloperLife #SaaS #Laravel #AgenticAICreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

Guess who's finally back from an epic honeymoon adventure through Japan and Korea?! Bradley rejoins Bennett, and after a two-and-a-half-week AI news whirlwind, we've got A LOT to unpack. We're kicking things off by calling out the "Propaganda We're Not Falling For," tackling everything from overhyped agent overload and why some popular frameworks aren't cutting it for us, to whether every new AI feature is truly a revolution or just good PR. Plus, we'll catch you up on the flurry of announcements from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google that dropped while Brad was offline – think new coding assistants, intriguing hardware partnerships, and the ever-evolving landscape of AI models.But the real deep dive this episode? Bradley's been putting Anthropic's Claude Code through its paces, and folks, the experience has been nothing short of mind-blowing. We're talking about taking a $200/month AI coding partner and unleashing it on a seriously complex part of a real-world app – thousands of lines of code, major refactoring, and even building custom MCP servers for AI-driven testing! Is this the future of solo development? Can an AI truly become your most productive (and surprisingly insightful) coding intern? We're sharing the nitty-gritty, the jaw-dropping successes, and what this level of AI capability means for anyone building software today. Buckle up, because the AI tools are evolving faster than ever!(00:00) - Introductions & updates (02:50) - Propaganda I'm Not Falling For: AI Trends and Tools (06:08) - OpenAI's Codex: Innovations in AI Development (11:43) - Johnny Ive and OpenAI: A New Era of AI Hardware (17:35) - Claude Code: The Rise of AI in Coding (22:15) - Anthropic's Claude: User Experience and Feedback (25:06) - The Challenge of AI Personalities (26:51) - Red Teaming and AI Ethics (29:09) - Anthropic's Marketing Strategy (30:03) - Innovations from Google I.O. (34:04) - The Future of Agent-to-Agent Communication (40:15) - Exploring Claude Code (48:12) - The Pricing Landscape of AI Tools (55:33) - Harnessing AI for Enhanced Productivity (58:26) - Navigating the Learning Curve of AI Tools (01:01:11) - The Future of Software Development with AI (01:06:33) - Personalized Software: The New Frontier (01:11:32) - The Reality of Building SaaS with AI (01:14:06) - Marketing in the Age of AI Links:- Claude Code- Google's A2A repository- AI Engineering book- Building a StoryBrand book- The Startup Ideas Podcast- Deep dive into Claude Code- Introduction to Vibe Marketing#AI #TechPodcast #SoftwareDevelopment #ClaudeCode #AIProgramming #AIHype #OpenAI #Anthropic #DeveloperTools #MCPCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

We are back with a jam-packed episode, kicking things off with everything from childhood gaming nostalgia (Oblivion, anyone?) to Brad's very exclusive Breakeven Brothers merch (bidding starts high, apparently!). But things get serious (and seriously exciting) as they dive into Brad's adventures at the DeepDishSwift iOS conference in Chicago, revealing how AI is no longer just a buzzword but a full-blown movement shaking up the Apple developer world. Plus, Ben unveils his brand-new, brilliantly named newsletter, "Augmentic Accounting," aimed at giving accountants an AI-powered edge – you won't want to miss the origin story!The brothers then tackle the big tech headlines, from OpenAI's latest multi-billion dollar shopping spree to Duolingo's bold (and controversial!) AI manifesto that has everyone talking and some even ditching their streaks. But the real star of this episode might just be a game-changing Google tool called NotebookLM. Bradley and Bennett share their firsthand experiences transforming dense docs, research, and even code into... well, you'll have to listen to find out how they're making information digestion downright fun and surprisingly podcast-like! They explore its clever features, potential workplace revolutions, and why it might become your new favorite productivity hack. Tune in for all this, their takes on AI's evolving (and sometimes overly agreeable) personality, and a look at what it all means for the future of our jobs!(00:00) - Introduction and Personal Updates (03:09) - AI Trends in Development Conferences (06:06) - Launching Augmentic Accounting Newsletter (09:00) - Navigating AI Tools and Skill Development (12:05) - The Importance of Human Connection in an AI World (15:03) - AI in Hiring and Performance Reviews (17:55) - OpenAI's Acquisition Rumors and Windsurf (21:06) - Apple App Store Changes and Developer Impact (23:58) - Exploring Notebook LLM (25:15) - Exploring Notebook LM Features (29:14) - Engaging with Audio Content (33:44) - Knowledge Sharing and Onboarding (36:30) - The Future of Audio in the Workplace (40:40) - Context Management in AI Tools (46:05) - OpenAI's Recent Developments (51:25) - The Impact of AI on Software Engineering Links:- NotebookLM- ConvertKit (Kit)- Duolingo AI Manifesto- Shopify AI Manifest- Windsurf- OpenAI GPT-4o Sycophancy Post Mortem- Will software jobs be the first to be displaced by AI?- HackerNews comment on original Windsurf launch#AI #NotebookLM #TechPodcast #FutureOfWork #AICoding #GoogleAI #ProductivityHacks #TechNews #OpenAI #LearnAICreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

Alright folks, buckle up because Episode 20 is here, and the AI world has been busy! Just like us hitting this big milestone, the pace of innovation isn't letting up. We kick things off by putting ourselves to the test with a hilarious and high-stakes game: Blind Ranking 10 AI Chat Apps. Who will reign supreme? Will we agree on the top spots, or will a surprise contender emerge from the digital shadows? Tune in to hear our spontaneous takes as we build the list live, one mystery app at a time!But the fun doesn't stop there. We dive headfirst into the whirlwind of major model releases that dropped faster than we could type – think OpenAI's latest O-series, Google's killer Gemini updates, and even Grok stepping up its game. Forget the dry benchmarks; we're talking about the "vibes" and real-world performance. Then, Bennett pulls back the curtain on a powerful framework he's been mastering, LangGraph, revealing how it can automate complex, multi-step processes (yes, even in accounting!). Could this be the key to building smarter AI agents and reshaping professional workflows? Plus, we share our can't-miss bookmarks, including a peek at a coding tool claiming superhuman results and another that magically turns boring documents into engaging podcasts. Don't miss this jam-packed episode!(00:00) - Introduction (02:11) - Blind Ranking of AI Apps (16:11) - Recent AI Developments and Releases (24:11) - The Future of Accounting with AI (25:17) - The Changing Landscape of Accounting (26:51) - Introduction to LangGraph and Its Applications (30:46) - State Management and Process Automation (32:58) - Integrating AI Agents with LangGraph (37:07) - The Future of Automation in Accounting (41:26) - The Importance of Human Oversight in AI (46:39) - Innovations in Automation and Personalization Links:- SplitMyExpenses- LangGraph- LangChain- Empower Personal Dashboard- Google's NotebookLM- Deel v Rippling NotebookLM - Cursor 0.49 + o3#AIChatApps #AIModels #GeminiAI #LangGraph #AIAccounting #AIAutomation #CursorAI #NotebookLM #AITools #TechPodcastCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

What exactly is MCP (Model Context Protocol) and why is it catching fire in the AI world? We unpack this emerging standard for connecting LLMs like Claude to external data sources, discussing its origins, how it differs from previous methods, and why major tech players are suddenly paying attention. Learn the potential behind standardized AI tool integration.Explore real-world examples like connecting AI chats to Xero accounting software for easier data access. We also share our own hands-on experiences building custom MCP servers – detailing the initial setup hurdles, the surprising power, the frustrating limitations we hit, and why this technology feels poised to reshape how we interact with our systems and data.(00:16) - Intro: Weekend Catch-Up & Episode Preview (01:48) - Introducing MCP: Model Context Protocol (02:28) - MCP Origins and Early Adoption (04:10) - Use Case: Connecting with Xero MCP (06:04) - How MCP Standardizes External Data Access (15:13) - Building a Custom MCP: Setup & Insights (31:03) - MCP Challenges: Authentication, Scale & Inefficiencies (43:51) - Future Vision & Impact of MCP (50:23) - Bookmarks: Earmark CPE & OpenAI Academy (53:55) - Conclusion & Call for MCP Examples Links:- SplitMyExpenses- Xero- Personal Capital / Empower- MCP documentation- Earmark- MCP server directory- AI course to analyze accounting data and draft reports- OpenAI Academy#MCP #AI #LLM #DataIntegration #ClaudeAI #Automation #TechPodcast #DeveloperTools #API #AccountingTechCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

Hold onto your hats, because the AI world just went into hyperdrive! This week, we try to make sense of the absolute deluge of new model releases that have dropped faster than Brad can guess Ben's secret words in our new AI Word Nerd game. From OpenAI finally cracking the code on actually usable text in images (goodbye, alien script!) to Google's confusingly named but seriously powerful Gemini 2.5 Pro storming the leaderboards for coding and reasoning, it feels like a year's worth of updates landed in just two weeks. We'll break down the key players, including the latest from open-source champions like DeepSeek and Sesame, covering advancements in speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and even AI that can see. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pace, you're not alone – join us as we navigate the flood!But it's not all just news and benchmarks! Ben dives deep into his latest "vibe coding" experiment: building a personal AI agent to tame his unruly email inbox. Hear about the highs and lows of prompting an AI to sort, prioritize, and even connect with other tools like QuickBooks, all while trying not to break the API limit bank. Discover the quirks of working with these powerful models, the surprising difficulty of asking an AI to remove code it added, and the critical lessons learned from tinkering on the front lines. If you want practical insights into building useful AI tools and staying ahead of the curve without needing a PhD, this episode is packed with real-world experience and essential updates.(00:00) - Introduction (06:01) - Recent Developments in AI Models (10:25) - OpenAI's Image Generation Innovations (13:19) - Google's Gemini 2.5 Release (17:47) - DeepSeek's New Model and Open Source Impact (18:58) - Advancements in Speech-to-Text Technology (21:23) - Innovations in AI: Leading the Charge (28:27) - Exploring New AI Models and Their Applications (38:29) - Building AI Agents: Insights and Experiences Links:- Google AI Studio- OpenAI Text-to-Speech Demo- Sesame Text-to-Speech Model- OpenAI Agent Building Framework - Eric's Context Window Chart & RepoPrompt- Santiago's MCP Tweet/Video#AIUpdates #GoogleGemini #OpenAI #AIAgents #AICoding #VibeCoding #OpenSourceAI #AIProductivity #TechPodcast #ContextWindowCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

Imagine your daily tasks completing themselves—no tedious manual work, no repetitive copy-pasting, just you overseeing a team of AI-powered assistants handling it all seamlessly. In this exciting new episode of the Breakeven Brothers podcast, Bradley and Ben dive deep into the world of AI agents: powerful tools that not only simplify your work but might just become your favorite new teammates. Whether you're in software engineering, accounting, or any knowledge-driven profession, the AI revolution has officially landed, and it's time to make friends with your newest coworkers—AI agents.Join the brothers as they unpack what exactly makes AI agents so game-changing, how these new tools are already reshaping professional roles in real-time, and why knowing how to orchestrate your personal AI assistants might soon become an essential skill. Ready to meet your new AI co-workers and learn how they can supercharge your productivity? Hit play and tune into Episode 17—because the future of work has arrived, and it's bringing a few surprises along with it!(00:00) - Introduction (03:03) - The Impact of AI on Knowledge Work (06:20) - Understanding AI Agents (09:24) - The Evolution of AI Interaction (12:25) - The Future of AI in Workplaces (15:18) - Recent Developments in AI Gaming (18:11) - Challenges and Opportunities with AI Agents (20:59) - The Importance of Effective Prompting (26:35) - The Importance of Specificity in AI Prompts (28:24) - Understanding AI's Limitations and Clarifying Questions (30:45) - The Evolving Role of Software Engineers in AI (32:37) - Exploring AI Tools and Their Integration in Workflows (34:43) - Maximizing Efficiency with AI Tools (36:37) - The Need for Documentation in AI Utilization (40:25) - Future of AI Agents in Accounting and Finance (44:11) - The Competitive Landscape of AI Development Links:- Vibe coded FIFA in 2 hours (troll)- Drink the kool aid: Claude Code is AGI- Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's prediction about Microsoft and OpenAI's partnership may have just manifested — and it's not a pretty look for the ChatGPT maker- Claude code#AIAgents #PromptEngineering #ProductivityTips #FutureOfWork #VibeCoding #ClaudeCode #AutomationTools #CursorAI #AIRevolution #AccountingAutomationCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

This week, the Breakeven Brothers are diving headfirst into a whirlwind of tech news, accounting industry shake-ups, and personal automation adventures. From the front lines of the Super Bowl (and its *always* controversial TurboTax ads), we unpack a surprising battle brewing between accountants and the very software they rely on. Is Intuit turning its back on the professionals who champion its products? We also explore the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with automating the *perfect* free Chipotle order, only to be thwarted by… a cellular dead zone? You won't want to miss Brad's hilarious (and slightly heartbreaking) tale of coding, burritos, and the realities of AT&T coverage.But the real meat of this episode tackles a question on every tech worker's mind: Are robots coming for our jobs? We dissect a provocative tweet from the CEO of Gumroad, declaring junior (and even mid-level) software engineers obsolete thanks to the power of AI. Is this a bold prediction of the future, a publicity stunt, or complete nonsense? We break down the arguments, analyze the current state of AI coding tools like Cursor, and discuss what this all means for the future of software development. Plus, we delve into the surprisingly hot topic of backend languages favored by venture capitalists, a little accounting tech-switching, and Brad's ongoing exploration of OpenAI's "Deep Research" tool – is it worth the hefty price tag? Tune in for a jam-packed episode full of insights, arguments, and, as always, a healthy dose of brotherly banter! We'll explore career prospects and some final book marks, along with an update about Sam Altman.(00:00) - Introduction and Personal Updates (03:28) - Laravel Adventures and AI Coding Tools (06:20) - Super Bowl and TurboTax Controversy (12:06) - Chipotle Automation and Networking Challenges (20:41) - Pottery and Future Plans (22:12) - The Rise of Programming Languages in AI (32:30) - Technology Switching and Efficiency in Workflows (44:22) - The Challenge of Legacy Systems and Boring Industries (46:31) - The 2038 Problem: Legacy Systems and Their Risks (48:11) - AI's Impact on Software Engineering Jobs (51:50) - The Future of Coding: AI vs Human Engineers (56:59) - AI in Accounting: Automation and Efficiency (58:50) - Deep Research: OpenAI's New Tool for In-Depth Analysis (01:03:38) - OpenAI's Evolution: From Nonprofit to For-Profit (01:09:22) - Data Security in AI: Best Practices for Professionals Links:- Debugger mode prompt for Cursor (save you hours of pain)- Humane kills AI Pin; HP buys assets | LinkedIn- OpenAI - Data security- What VCs are hiring for in terms of languages- Sam Altman: what to open source next?#AIcoding #Laravel #AccountingTech #SoftwareEngineering #OpenAI #TechNews #Productivity #FutureOfWork #VCfunding #LegacySystemsCreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host

Ever feel like you're juggling a million things at once and still not getting anywhere? This week, the Breakeven Brothers dive deep into the world of productivity – and it’s not all about grinding through endless hours. We’re debating the merits of intense "monk mode" focus versus the power of strategic micro-breaks, all while sharing our personal battles with distractions, sleep schedules, and the never-ending quest to simply get things done. From the depths of AI-powered coding sessions to the complexities of managing a side hustle, we’re exploring how to actually make progress, not just feel busy. Join us as we reveal our current strategies to stay focused, reduce distractions, and even touch on some popular health guru advice. Get ready to rethink your approach to productivity, because it's not just about how hard you work, but how *smart* you work.This episode is a whirlwind tour through our latest tech adventures, side project updates, and the surprising realities of running a business in 2025. We're diving into some painful realities of mobile app development (yes, we're looking at you, push notifications!), and discuss the surprising ways AI is both helping and hindering our progress. Plus, we reveal the unexpected places where we are seeing real value with new AI models and tools – including one incredibly easy setup that lets us run powerful tech locally! We’ll also touch on the power of community and the financial realities of running your own accounting firm. If you’re curious about how to navigate a world of endless to-dos, tune in for a candid discussion on what’s actually working for us right now… and what's definitely *not*.(00:00) - Navigating Busy Work Lives (03:29) - The Importance of Focus and Deep Work (06:20) - Strategies for Effective Work Sessions (09:14) - Implementing Notifications and User Engagement (12:25) - Enhancing Data Security and Backup Strategies (15:26) - Building a Chat Application with Django and React Native (22:33) - Navigating React and React Native Development (24:01) - The Challenges of Prompt Engineering with AI (28:25) - Understanding the Complexity of React and React Native (30:25) - The Limitations of AI in Software Development (36:08) - The Future of AI in Creative Fields (40:21) - Leveraging AI for Enhanced Productivity (45:34) - Exploring AI-Powered Web Browsing (48:26) - Innovative Use Cases in Accounting with AI (51:11) - The Debate: Python vs. PHP in Web Development (51:41) - Deep Dive into Open Source AI Models (58:49) - Setting Up Local AI Models with Open Web UI (01:02:26) - Bookmarks: AI Tools and Practical Applications Links:- Easy apply to jobs with an AI powered Chrome Extension- Host ALL your AI locally- How Much Money I Made In 2024 As A Fourth Year CPA Firm Owner#ProductivityHacks #AIforDevelopers #LocalAI #MobileAppDevelopment #WebDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #Entrepreneurship #AccountingTech #DeepWork #OpenSourceAICreators & Guests Bennett Bernard - Host Bradley Bernard - Host