How to Turn Smart Glasses into Walking Companions with Superprompts

From guides to coaches, here’s how AI turns walks into journeys.

Recently, I took my smart glasses out for a long walk. Not just to test the hardware, but to explore what happens when you combine everyday activities with AI. Instead of simply listening to music or checking notifications, I wanted to see if I could create an AI walking companion—someone to guide me through the forest, coach me on my personal goals, or even challenge me with new ideas along the way.

The result was surprising: sometimes inspiring, sometimes frustrating, but always a glimpse into how AI can quietly fit into our daily lives.

That experience is what I’d like to share here—not just my reflections, but also a practical tutorial on how you can do the same.

The secret lies in superprompts: detailed instructions that define the AI’s role, its behavior, and the context of your walk. Think of it as giving your AI a script before you head out.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:

1. Understand what superprompts are and why they matter.

2. Choose the right roles for your AI companion.

3. Write your own walking superprompt step by step.

4. Avoid common pitfalls when walking with AI.

Step 1. What is a Superprompt?

A superprompt is not just “talk to me while I walk.” It’s a carefully written setup that tells the AI:

• who it should be (guide, coach, philosopher),

• what to focus on (nature, personal goals, ideas),

• how to interact (wait before speaking, keep answers short).

Without this structure, the AI drifts into generic chat. With it, the conversation feels purposeful and much closer to walking with a real companion.

Step 2. Pick a Role for Your Walk

Different roles create different walking experiences. Here are three that worked well for me:

• Nature & History Guide → points out plants, animals, and local stories.

• Mental Coach → listens, reflects, and helps you with daily or long-term goals.

• Philosophy Companion → discusses books and ideas, poses thought experiments.

Tip: keep one main role per walk. That keeps the AI focused and avoids confusion.

Step 3. Add Context to Your Prompt

This is where the magic happens. Instead of a generic role, tell the AI about your actual walk:

• your route (e.g., “20 km through the Loonse and Drunense Dunes”),

• your surroundings (forest, dunes, villages),

• your personal goals (slow down your pace, reflect on work, improve breathing).

  
  

Context turns the AI from “just a coach” into your coach for this day.

Step 4. Structure Your Superprompt

Here’s a simple framework you can copy and adapt:

• Role & Identity: Define who the AI is.

• Personal Context: Add today’s route, environment, or goals.

• Tone & Pacing: Ask for pauses (e.g., 3 seconds before answering).

• Flexibility: Allow quick off-topic answers (like “what tree is this?”).

• Engagement: Tell it to ask you questions back.

• Boundaries: Limit answers in length to keep things light.

Example prompt:

"You are my walking companion on a 20-kilometer route from Vught to the Loonse and Drunense Dunes. Your role is a nature guide, but you can also answer occasional personal or philosophical questions. I want to use this walk to slow down and improve my breathing. Wait at least three seconds before answering, keep replies under 90 seconds, and occasionally ask me a question back."

Step 5. Know the Limitations

Even with good prompts, a few challenges remain:

• Tech glitches. Text-to-speech on some glasses doesn’t work reliably. A workaround is using the ChatGPT app in conversation mode via Bluetooth—but your phone screen must stay active.

• Interruptions. AI often jumps in too quickly. Solve this by explicitly asking for pauses in your prompt.

• Rigid roles. A “Mental Coach” won’t answer “what tree is this?” unless you give it permission to be flexible.

• No shared memory. AI can’t tell you “this reminds me of last week.” After a while, conversations may feel one-sided.

• Model switching. Some apps downgrade to lighter models after a while, which makes the answers less nuanced.

Why It Matters

Smart glasses don’t become exciting because of cameras or battery specs. They become exciting when they create experiences. With superprompts, you can turn them from passive gadgets into active companions that make your walk richer, whether you’re exploring nature, working on personal goals, or diving into philosophy.

In the end, smart glasses will only become truly interesting when they’re not about the glasses themselves—but about the stories, reflections, and ideas they bring to life while you’re moving through the world.