The Prince of Darkness lives on — digitally. The Osbourne family is bringing Ozzy back through artificial intelligence.
What We Know: The Osbourne family partnered with tech company Hyperreal to build an AI-powered version of the late rock legend. Jack and Sharon Osbourne revealed the project at Licensing Expo 2026 in Las Vegas this week. Hyperreal previously created a similar AI avatar of Stan Lee for Los Angeles Comic Con. The digital Ozzy will replicate his voice, image, and movement.
What They Said: Sharon Osbourne made the vision crystal clear. “You can ask Ozzy anything, and he will answer you in his own voice,” she said. “We’re going to take it all around the world. People can talk to him and he will talk back.” Those words carry serious weight for millions of fans globally.
What Remains Unclear: Notably, specific launch dates and pricing remain unannounced. Furthermore, no details exist yet about which markets receive access first. The ethical conversation around AI recreations of deceased artists also continues to grow louder across the entertainment industry. Fans and critics alike will watch this rollout closely.
What It Means: Ozzy isn’t alone in this space. KISS, ABBA, Paul McCartney, and the Notorious B.I.G. have all entered the AI avatar world before him. The Osbourne family is simply taking a proven blueprint and making it global. The line between tribute and technology keeps getting thinner.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
