Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath who passed away in July 2025 at the age of 76, is set to be recreated as a lifesized AI-powered avatar, his family announced. The project, developed in partnership with tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram, was unveiled at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas on 20 May.
Family Announcement
Jack Osbourne, Ozzy's son, and his wife Sharon Osbourne revealed the plans to the audience. "It's kind of scary how it's really very accurate," Jack said. "He will exist digitally as himself for as long as we have computers. Technology has come such a long way to where it's almost drag and drop." Sharon added, "We're going to take it all around the world. People can talk to him and he will talk back." She compared the project to Elvis Presley's enduring legacy, expressing a desire for similar recognition for Ozzy.
Technology and Implementation
Hyperreal claims the avatar will be able to "have conversations with fans and move, speak, and respond as Ozzy would." It will appear on interactive touchscreens set to be placed in undisclosed locations in the US and UK later this year. Remington Scott, CEO of Hyperreal, told Billboard that the avatar was built exclusively from authenticated, approved source material, curated and controlled by the family. "This is a living performance, not a rendering," Scott said.
Fan Backlash
The announcement has drawn criticism from fans who view the avatar as disrespectful and against Ozzy's wishes. Jack Osbourne responded during a YouTube livestream, saying, "It's gonna be so tasteful what we're doing. It's not gonna be fucking lame. This isn't just like hooking up an image of my dad to ChatGPT. This is some high-level technology." He claimed he discussed similar ideas with his father before his death, adding, "I know he would be into this."
Context in Music Industry
Ozzy joins a list of musicians who have received posthumous hologram treatments, including Tupac Shakur, Roy Orbison, Maria Callas, and Michael Jackson. An attempt to create a touring Amy Winehouse hologram in 2018 was later cancelled due to "unique challenges and sensitivities."
