Ozzy Osbourne Family Defends Interactive AI Avatar

The family of the late rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has forcefully defended its plan to create an interactive AI avatar of the musician, dismissing criticism that the project is a distasteful cash grab. The digital avatar, developed in partnership with technology companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram, is scheduled to launch in the United Kingdom and United States in late summer.

The project was announced by Ozzy's widow, Sharon Osbourne, and their son, Jack, at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas in May. They described the avatar as a "digital DNA" imprint that will allow fans to converse with a lifelike digital version of Ozzy, who died in July 2025 at age 76. The technology will use a closed AI system built from a curated database of the musician's own words and authenticated biographical information.

On a recent episode of their family podcast, Sharon and Jack Osbourne directly addressed the backlash from some fans who have called the venture exploitative. Sharon dismissed the critics, stating she does not need their money and framing the project as a natural technological evolution. She compared the criticism to questioning why someone would use a jet instead of a propeller plane....