Eyes of a Stranger

What happens when the future is watching back?In this episode of Neon Protocol, we sit down with Cortney Harding to unpack the quiet rise of AI‑powered smart glasses—and the hidden cost behind their surprisingly low price. Marketed as seamless, helpful, and hands‑free, these devices promise convenience and intelligence at eye level. But what are we really giving up in exchange?Through the lens of “Eyes of a Stranger,” we explore how always‑on wearables blur the boundary between public and private, observer and observed. From ambient recording and invisible data capture to the normalization of surveillance as a lifestyle feature, this conversation digs into what it means to live in a world where seeing is also collecting.Cortney brings clarity to the trade‑offs: why accessibility and affordability often come paired with diminished privacy, how consent becomes murky in shared spaces, and what it means when technology doesn’t just watch the world—but learns from it.This episode isn’t about fear—it’s about awareness. Because when intelligence moves from our pockets to our faces, the question isn’t just what can these glasses do?It’s who do they see—and who’s watching through them?Neon Protocol Members:Gene FeldmanMark GrobMike VannDamon ShacklefordLucky Gobindram