Sharon Osbourne Slams 'Cash Grab' Claims About AI Ozzy Osbourne

Sharon Osbourne is shutting down criticism after announcing an AI version of her late husband, Ozzy Osbourne, is in development.

Sharon and her son, Jack Osbourne, addressed accusations that their family is using the AI partnership with Hyperreal and Proto Hologram announced last month as a "cash grab" during the latest episode of The Osbournes podcast.

"For me, it's not about pretending he's still alive," Jack, 40, said of the late Black Sabbath rocker, who died in July 2025 at the age of 76. Sharon, 73, chimed in, "He is still alive. He's left us a body of work that will never die."

The pair agreed that the AI avatar was more of an effort to ensure Ozzy is "never forgotten," as Sharon said she was "sorry" for those who thought money was the main motivator for the project.

"I'm not asking you to come," she said in an address to the doubters. "I don't want your f--king money. I don't need your f--king money. I'm doing very well."

The Talk alum, who was married to the "Crazy Train" artist for more than four decades, assured listeners that Ozzy would have supported the AI version of himself being created.

"For somebody to turn around to me and say I'm doing a cash grab? No, you don't know my husband, OK?" she said. "I know my husband. My husband would say to me over and over, 'After I go, how long do you think I'll be remembered?'"

Both Sharon and Jack also agreed that an AI version of Ozzy was inevitable, regardless of whether they were involved with its development. Jack assured fans who were worried about the extent of the technology that the new project was a "closed AI module" that was not connected to the internet.

"Someone said, 'It's dangerous, you can't control,'" he said. "And I was like, 'What the f--k do you think this? [The Terminator]?' You think this is going to go sentient, and the next thing you know, Ozzy is going to launch the nukes?"

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 10:03 AM.