Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy Osbourne 's manager and widow , along with her son Jack , refuted comments that the creation of an AI-generated interactive avatar of the late Madman would be a "cash grab." The launch is planned for the end of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, focusing on the United States and the United Kingdom.
During the most recent episode of The Osbournes podcast, Sharon responded to accusations that the family was exploiting the singer's image for money. She stated that she doesn't "need the money" from the critics and that the avatar will serve to preserve Ozzy 's memory for his grandchildren.
“Go f*** yourselves, give me a break. Technology advances. It’s like asking why fly in a jet when there’s a propeller plane. I feel sorry for those people, but I’m not asking you to consume. I don’t want your f***ing money, I don’t need it. I’m doing very well financially. And this is for our grandchildren. And that’s it, and I don’t have to justify anything to any f*** out there,” he said [transcription via Loudwire].
Jack was also direct in addressing the commercial side of the project. “Ultimately, if keeping my father alive and accessible to a fan is considered a cash grab, then I’m guilty of the charge. We’re in the entertainment industry, and none of this is charity,” he declared, referring to the partnership with HYPERREAL and Proto Hologram.
He further explained that the project to develop the Ozzy Osbourne avatar has strong ethical standards, operating in a "closed" manner – without an internet connection – and being powered solely by a restricted database containing real phrases spoken or written by the Prince of Darkness while he was still alive.
“The technology we’re using isn’t Claude or ChatGPT, where you can ask anything about any subject. It’s a closed AI module that’s not connected to the internet. Someone said, ‘Oh, it’s dangerous. You can’t control it.’ And I was like, ‘What the hell do you think this is, Terminator? Is Ozzy going to become self-aware and, out of nowhere, launch nuclear warheads?’ But I think, for me, it’s not about pretending he’s still alive. For me, it’s about ensuring he’s never forgotten,” he concluded.
Learn more about Ozzy Osbourne's avatar
During his participation in Licensing Expo 2026, on the panel "The Enduring Legacy of a Rock Icon and His Family: Ozzy Osbourne and The Osbournes," Jack Osbourne revealed that the family partnered with HYPERREAL – a company that defines itself as "the future of immersive entertainment with avatars" – to create what he calls "Ozzy Osbourne's digital DNA: voice, image, and movement" [via Loudwire].
“It’s kind of scary how precise it is. It will exist digitally as itself as long as we have computers. The technology has evolved so much that it’s almost like drag and drop. You can record a model for a commercial… literally tell Ozzy Digital what you want to do in that commercial and just insert it. It’s very simple now,” Jack revealed.
“You can ask Ozzy anything and he’ll answer in his own voice — and the answers will be exactly what Ozzy would say. We’re going to take this to the whole world. People will be able to talk to him and he’ll answer,” Sharon explained.
Sharon emphasized that the main objective is to protect the legacy Ozzy built over decades in rock and pop culture. “Elvis died 50 years ago and everyone knows Elvis. I just want that for Ozzy,” said Sharon. The idea involves official merchandise, audiovisual projects, and initiatives linked to the musician's personal archive.
Sharon also stated that the family learned a lot after years of managing the vocalist's career. According to her, the Osbourne surname has become a global brand since the days of the reality show The Osbournes, which aired in the 2000s.
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