She revealed the Prince of Darkness will live on as an avatar that rock and roll fans can chat with in both the UK and America from this summer
Ozzy Osbourne will be brought back to life as an AI hologram thanks to his wife Sharon. She revealed the Prince of Darkness will live on as an avatar that rock and roll fans can chat with in both the UK and America from this summer.
Sharon, 73, and the Osbourne clan have been working with tech boffins to create the amazing holographic version of tragic Ozzy that uses artificial intelligence to listen to fans and reply as the rocker would have.
She and the tech chiefs behind the amazing avatar said they hope it’ll bring a “true God of rock back to the world to connect with fans”.
Heavy metal star Ozzy died last summer aged 76 just weeks after his final performance in home town Birmingham with his classic band Black Sabbath. But he’ll live on, Sharon said, during a talk – The Enduring Legacy of a Rock Icon and His Family: Ozzy Osbourne and The Osbournes – on the License Global main stage at Licensing Expo.
She confirmed that “Digital Ozzy” is already deep in development through a partnership between firms Hyperreal and Proto Hologram.
Hyperreal – the company behind a patented Digital DNA process – is building Ozzy’s authenticated avatar, while Proto will power the holographic presence that allows the virtual Ozzy to appear, move and speak in real time to fans.
Together, the companies say the technology will enable the avatar to hold conversations with music lovers and respond exactly as Ozzy would.
Sharon told the audience she was stunned by the creative potential of the project. She said: “The things that you can do with that are just endless.”
Fans won’t have long to wait either. Digital Ozzy is set to appear in Proto Luma holographic units in both the UK and US beginning late summer.
Hyperreal CEO Remington Scott emphasised that the avatar was created with full approval and care from the family.
He said: “Every element of this avatar was built exclusively from authenticated, approved source material: curated, consented, and controlled by the people who love him most. This is a living performance, not a rendering; and it draws from nothing that wasn’t given willingly.
“We have the enthusiastic participation of Ozzy’s family, and that changes everything about what this can be.”
Proto Hologram founder David Nussbaum added: “It’s an honour to be trusted to bring one of true gods of rock back to the world to continue to connect with fans – thank you Sharon and Jack.
“We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t know both of our company’s technologies will create an experience that truly extends Ozzy’s presence, his heart and soul, into the future.”