Jack Osbourne has responded to criticism about plans to create an AI-powered Ozzy Osbourne avatar, insisting that there was more to the project than just using artificial intelligence.
During a YouTube livestream, Jack said, "Here's the thing, it's gonna be so tasteful what we're doing. It's not gonna be f—king lame. It's really complex what we're doing. This isn't just like hooking up an image of my dad to ChatGPT. This is some high-level technology that we're gonna be working with, and it's gonna feel very real, and it's kind of wild how it will be utilized."
Jack added that he had discussed this AI idea with his father before his death. "It's really cool, and it's something that I think my dad would be into," he said. "We actually talked about it before he passed, about doing something like this. So, yeah. I know he would be into this."
Jack's defense comes following severe backlash by fans after the Osbourne family spoke about their partnership with the tech company, Hyperreal, to create an Ozzy avatar, while discussing the future of Ozzy's brand at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas last week.
Hyperreal said the avatar will have the ability to "have conversations with fans and move, speak, and respond as Ozzy would."
According to Billboard, the tech company said that the Ozzy avatar will begin appearing in life-sized, interactive touchscreens in the U.S. and U.K. beginning in late summer 2026.
"Poor dude's soul was literally floating away but was quickly lassoed by Sharon and then yanked back down to earth, where he'll be on digital life support and forced to continue dancing for every sad soul who wants to ask him a question…except it's not even him," one user wrote, while another said, "Wow! A year hasn't even passed since Ozzy's passing and they are already trying to commercialize and profit from his memory."
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