Boy George is giving one of the biggest songs of the 1980s a futuristic makeover. More than four decades after Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" topped charts around the world, the singer has reunited with original producer Steve Levine to release a newly recorded version of the classic using what he calls "ethical" artificial intelligence, launching a new artist-focused venture in the process.
Timed to coincide with his 65th birthday, the revamped track serves as the first release from Artist Included, a company founded by entrepreneur Paul "PK" Kemsley and entertainment attorney Jeremy Rosen, with Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl serving as chairman.
The project is built around a simple idea: AI should work with artists rather than replace them. For the updated recording, George returned to the studio to re-sing the song, while Syntiant’s technology used artist-approved recordings and demos—shared with permission by Levine—to help recreate the emotional texture of the original 1983 master.
The move adds another chapter to the remarkable story of "Karma Chameleon," which became Culture Club's signature hit after being released in September 1983. The song spent six weeks atop the U.K. charts and three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining the band's only American chart-topper. It has since surpassed 900 million Spotify streams.
The lyrics have long been tied to Boy George’s relationship with drummer Jon Moss and his fears about hiding his authentic self. The song itself nearly never happened, with some band members reportedly dismissing it as sounding too country.
"Absolutely convinced based on zero evidence that this song was going to be No. 1," George recalled to Forbes, adding that he threatened to leave Culture Club unless the track made the album.
He was right.
Looking back at revisiting the song decades later, he admitted the process stirred unexpected emotions. "This is me, this is what I created, it belongs to me," he said. "It has been like a child I lost control of."
George initially questioned whether AI could even help recreate the magic. "I was not quite against it, but I didn't believe it was possible," he said.
Today, he sees the technology differently. "You could argue that the drum machine was a form of AI," he explained. "It's like the new iPhone—there's always an update of an idea."
The project also addresses a longstanding issue in the music business. According to Kemsley, artists behind classic hits often don't control the master recordings that generate millions through licensing deals. Artist Included hopes to change that by allowing musicians to create new, artist-owned masters with full consent and transparency.
"Used responsibly, AI can become one of the most powerful creative tools the music industry has ever seen," Kemsley previously said.
For Boy George, whose image and music helped define the MTV era, the new "Karma Chameleon" represents more than nostalgia. "I lost this kid for a few years, but he's back," he previously said.