Jack Osbourne recently defended the decision to create an AI-powered avatar of his father, Ozzy Osbourne, after the family faced backlash for partnering with tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram. He discussed the controversy during an appearance on E! News.
“Admittedly, I think I spoke kind of out of turn in the sense of really kind of explaining why we’re doing it,” Jack Osbourne said. “Everything is gonna have an A.I. fingerprint on it at some point.”
He explained that the project is primarily intended to preserve his father’s legacy for the future.
“Ultimately, it’s about preserving the digital fingerprint of my father,” he continued. “That’s the core essence of it. Yes, it can be utilized for other things, but ultimately it’s about getting ahead of what is the inevitability.”
The comments come as the Osbourne family continues to explain the project’s purpose and address concerns about using AI to recreate the late Black Sabbath vocalist.
Sharon and Jack Osbourne announced the avatar at Licensing Expo 2026 in Las Vegas. The family introduced the project through a partnership with digital-human company Hyperreal and hologram technology firm Proto Hologram.
The avatar is designed to use Ozzy’s voice, likeness and movement data. The system is intended to allow fans to interact with a holographic version of Ozzy through life-sized displays.
The announcement received a largely negative response from fans. Many criticized the idea as disrespectful and accused the family of trying to profit from Ozzy’s image after his death.
Jack has rejected comparisons between the project and a standard chatbot using his father’s face. “This isn’t ChatGPT with Dad’s face,” he said, explaining that the system would be closed and based on approved material and verified information about Ozzy.
Ozzy Osbourne died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, following years of health problems. The timing has made the project particularly sensitive, although the family has said it had been discussing ways to preserve his voice, personality and legacy for years. The avatar is expected to give fans another way to engage with Ozzy’s work and memory.
