Almost a year after his death, Ozzy Osbourne is set to return, in a manner of speaking.
Sharon and Jack Osbourne announced at Licensing Expo in Las Vegas last month that the family has partnered with tech companies Hyperreal and Proto Hologram to create a lifesize AI-powered avatar of the late Black Sabbath frontman. It will be capable of holding conversations, performing, and responding to fans in Osbourne's own voice and likeness, with appearances on interactive touchscreens in the US and UK expected before the end of summer. Birmingham, Osbourne's hometown, is first in line.
Osbourne died on 22 July 2025 from a heart attack, aged 76, less than three weeks after performing at Villa Park with the original Black Sabbath lineup in what proved to be his final concert.
The announcement has divided fans.