5 Controversial Ways Rod Stewart Used AI to ‘Resurrect’ Ozzy Osbourne

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Welcome to AI Design Proposal—your daily dose of design clarity and AI-savvy insight! Today’s hot topic: a viral concert “tribute” that shows how fast well-meant AI can slide from heartfelt to horrifying. Designers, art directors, and brand teams—this one’s packed with lessons you can use tomorrow.

• 5 Controversial Ways Rod Stewart Used AI to ‘Resurrect’ Ozzy Osbourne

• How Designers Can Instantly Transform a Customer's Face into Anyone Using a Single Photo

• Quick Tips

• 5 AI design tools

Read time: 4 minutes

Today’s AI Design Breakthrough

5 Controversial Ways Rod Stewart Used AI to ‘Resurrect’ Ozzy Osbourne

TL;DR

Rod Stewart’s recent concert featured an AI-generated tribute video showing Ozzy Osbourne “having a blast in heaven,” snapping selfies with other deceased music icons. Sentiment was clear—but the delivery struck many as unsettling, tone-deaf, and ethically awkward.

Short Paragraphs

Stewart’s US tour included a visual backing for his performance of "Forever Young": a surreal AI-rendered scene depicting Ozzy Osbourne using a selfie stick with stars such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury, Tupac, and others floating in heaven.

Public response quickly divided. Many viewers called the tribute "disrespectful," "creepy," or a misguided attempt at homage, while others acknowledged it as an unconventional—but heartfelt—attempt to honor lost legends.

Legal and ethical concerns also emerged, particularly regarding the use of deceased celebrities' likenesses without estate permission—potentially infringing on personality and image rights depending on jurisdiction. Meanwhile, a few relatives (like Tupac’s stepbrother and XXXTentacion’s mother) expressed no objections to the usage.

Inside editorial takedowns went further—the Creative Bloq team summed it up well: “Great sentiment, awful execution.” 

Highlights

• AI resurrects legends: Ozzy Osbourne pictured in heaven with other music icons via AI imagery.

• Execution misfires: Many fans found the tone unsettling—selfie-taking in heaven struck as insensitive.

• Legal grey zone: Raises questions of image rights, consent, and the ethics of reanimating public figures.

• Mixed family reactions: Some estates are silent; a few offered quiet approval.

Why It Matters

• Demonstrates how AI can vilify sentiment, turning an emotional tribute into a divisive spectacle.

• Highlights ethical pitfalls of digitally resurrecting famous faces without permission—especially for public display.

• Offers a cautionary scene: when honoring the past, execution matters just as much as intent.

Actionable Insight

If you're exploring AI-generated tributes, start with more subtle approaches: use archival photos, archival video, or respectful graphic montages instead of full AI animation. And always consider: Does the tribute afford dignified memory—rather than distort the legacy?

Tool Spotlight

How Designers Can Instantly Transform a Customer's Face into Anyone Using a Single Photo

Tool of the Day: SwapFace

Scenario: Ideal for real-time or photo-based face swapping, useful for content creators, video editors, and digital artists.

Value:

• Real-time face swapping: Swap faces in live video streams or recorded footage.

• AI-powered accuracy: Ensures realistic blending of skin tones, lighting, and facial expressions.

• Privacy-focused: Processes images locally, reducing data security concerns.

How it works:

1. Upload an image or video.

2. Choose or upload the target face to swap.

3. Let the AI generate a seamless, high-quality face swap, then download the final result.

Prompt of the Day

Today's Style: Warm Fantasy Fusion

Example:

Quick Tips

Title: "Turn Simple Doodles into Polished Drawings with AutoDraw"

Tip: Use AutoDraw’s AI-powered Doodle Enhancement to instantly refine rough sketches into clean, professional-looking illustrations.

How to Enhance Doodles with AutoDraw:

1. Start Drawing:

   • Visit AutoDraw and sketch a rough doodle using your mouse, touchscreen, or stylus.

2. Let AI Recognize Your Drawing:

   • AutoDraw’s AI will suggest polished versions of your sketch at the top of the screen.

3. Select a Suggested Drawing:

   • Click on the closest match to instantly replace your rough doodle with a clean, professional design.

4. Customize Your Artwork:

   • Change colors, resize, and add text or additional elements to personalize your drawing.

5. Download or Share:

   • Save your enhanced doodle as an image or share it directly online.

Recommended Tools Today

viewflip: Grant remote control over your screen or window to co-work or get expert technical support

Baseline: Create brand guides and social content for all your clients or in-house brands

Leadfwd: Combine LinkedIn prospecting and outreach with personalized, AI-assisted cold email automation

Triplo AI: Boost your productivity with an Al assistant that’s accessible on desktop and mobile

Baseline: Create brand guides and social content for all your clients or in-house brands

Wrap-Up

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