Update #2 []: Christian Simpson / Peri Fractic has kindly given Time Extension a statement, which we've reproduced here in full:
My YouTube channel Retro Recipes explores vintage tech, and uses emerging tech to produce the content, side by side, while Commodore operates as a separate venture focused on real products and quality nostalgia. For example, when we began planning Commodore merchandise, I made it clear we prioritise human artists for all artwork. The same applies to the artist-drawn mascot in our upcoming user guide.
In my latest video however, I used brief AI generated clips to illustrate some fleeting moments, and experimented with some new video generation technologies which interest me as a video creator, musician, and artist. These clips did not replace any jobs; without them, those scenes would not have been filmed at all. Clips of myself and my wife were trained on and generated solely from images we provided specifically to save time while we focused on completing the Commodore acquisition, a major product launch, and caring for our two year-old daughter. It's important to provide a balanced perspective, and indeed many viewers felt the AI was used responsibly, even refreshingly.
Others criticised use of AI where there was none; the footage of the Commodore logo on the Moon for example at 9:45, provided by Retro Recipes Patreon @CallousCoder.
A number of my earlier videos were allegedly used by Apple for AI training without prior notice. I chose not to take action because I acknowledge that with a technological leap this big, there will always be a huge adjustment period, but I believe in humanity's ability to harness AI for good. If I can use it responsibly on my little channel - as commenters acknowledged - then others can use it responsibly too. I cannot control that, but I can set an example.
Quite separately from the channel, Commodore’s future depends on honouring its legacy and innovating responsibly. Whether and how to integrate AI - for example in coding assistance - is an ongoing discussion. If AI coding, for example, just becomes a fact of how it's done in the near future, and if all schools start teaching AI across the board, does Commodore jump on as the world turns, or get spun back out into a parallel universe again, bankrupt, because no parents will buy a new Commodore if it doesn't support their child's curriculum needs?
As you can see, it's far from a simple subject. Many in the community have asked under the same video for computers that acknowledge modern tech like AI.
It's hard to give a winning answer when there are two clear sides to the debate and one company and YouTube channel in the middle. Right now, we are still in the heat of completing the acquisition process, fundraising to enable that, and planning that product launch. And though there are connections between AI and old Commodore computers, I can at least say to those who are still not a fan of AI - there is no AI in the new product. Stay tuned to Retro Recipes where all will be announced on 12 July 2025.
Until then, we'll always listen to the community and keep Commodore focused on what matters: bringing back the optimism and innovation people loved in the first place, and creating new nostalgia for future generations to look back on 30 years from now.
Peri Fractic
CEO, Commodore International Corporation
Update #1 []:
After teasing his purchase of Commodore earlier this month, Christian Simpson of Retro Recipes has confirmed that he has completed the acquisition of the company for a "low seven-figure sum". The cash hasn't actually been handed over yet, but Simpson and his team have raised a significant amount and seem confident about attracting additional investment. "As of a few weeks ago, I am the acting CEO of Commodore Corporation," he says at the start of the video, with a justifiable grin.
The deal includes a host of trademarks stretching all the way back to 1982, and Simpson has carefully assembled a team of former Commodore staffers to lend this new venture legitimacy.
These include Bil Herd (Commodore lead engineer 1982-1986), Albert Charpentier (Commodore VP of Technology 1979-1984), Michael Tomczyh (Assisant to Commodore President Jack Tramiel, 1980-1984), James Harrison (Commodore Tech Support hotline agent, 1990-1994) and David Pleasance (Commodore UK VP & Joint Managing Director, 1983-1994).
Furthermore, Simpson has gotten Canadian actor and Silicon Valley star Thomas Middleditch involved with the project, which Simpson claims could result in new "retro futuristic" hardware as early as next year.
While there's much reason for optimism with all of this and the vast majority of comments are overwhelmingly positive, some individuals have expressed concern with Simpson's excessive use of generative AI in this video and others on his channel.
"Why is there so much AI trash in this video?" says one comment, while another says, "This is very cool, but I wish you wouldn't use AI in the video. It doesn't give me hope about the future of Commodore." Another comment simply says, "AI GENERATED CLIPS BOOO."
At the time of writing, Simpson hasn't responded to those particular comments, but he has addressed this one:
"Please be very careful not to brand Commodore with AI generated imagery. I know this is just a fun video but I hope not to see it in marketing etc. Retro fans are good at spotting it and It's kind of repelling. Would hate it to be associated with modern Commodore because it opposes its values."
Simpson has posted in reply:
"Thanks for correctly discerning the difference between what has always been a fun YouTube channel, and the actual products the company will put out."
The irony here is that, in the video itself, Simpson laments the impact of modern technology, including AI:
"Do you remember how tech felt in the late '90s and early 2000s, sort of techno optimism they call it; it was retrofuturistic, fresh, inviting; no pop-ups and overflowing inboxes and boring black rectangles that all look the same... and took our attention away from our loved ones... all that transparent tech and metallic clothing symbolized and reflected clarity hope and freedom; social media stands for the opposite; toxicity, distraction, addiction, and harm... it just all went wrong. Technology that was meant to help us or we became enslaved to it. It just went too far and we're on another precipice right now with AI, but this time the feeling isn't optimism now."
Simpson has been very open about his use of Generative AI clips and images, and he has used it to create thumbnails for his channel, too.
The FAQ section of his personal site outlines his use of the controversial technology:
"We sometimes experiment with AI to assist in content creation, like AI-assisted thumbnails and our occasional AI presenter, PerAIfractic. This allows us to balance content creation with personal demands."
Generative AI is a hot topic at the moment, with critics claiming that it relies on human-made content for output, and, in the vast majority of cases, the creators of that content are not consulted or renumerated.
Hollywood giants Disney and Universal are currently involved in legal action against one of the services Simpson uses on his channel, Midjourney, with the duo branding the video-generation tool a "bottomless pit of plagiarism".
While many see Generative AI as a legitimate creative tool, it's clearly a divisive topic; AI-created art, video and audio is effectively removing demand for human creatives, and many people see its use as a shady shortcut that leverages the hard work of other people.
Recently, YouTube celebrity MrBeast was forced to withdraw a service he was offering which would allow content creators to produce AI-generated thumbnails based on content harvested from YouTube following a dramatic backlash.
We've tried contacting Simpson for comment, but his personal site only seems to accept faxes, and his social media accounts do not accept messages from people he isn't following. If we succeed in getting in touch, we'll update this article with his reply.
Original Story:
It's easy to forget today, but once upon a time, Commodore was a huge force in the world of computing and interactive entertainment. Its C64 home computer was incredibly popular, and it would follow this with the equally beloved Amiga.
These two platforms sold millions of units and gave us plenty of classic games, but the Commodore story went off the rails in the early '90s thanks to some poor business choices, the growth of the PC market and the arrival of powerful Japanese home consoles. Systems like the CD-TV and Amiga CD32 failed to gain a foothold in the market, and the company would effectively cease to exist by 1994.
Despite this, the Commodore name still holds a tremendous amount of respect with many retro gamers, and Christian Simpson of Retro Recipes is looking to purchase the entire company, along with a group of like-minded fans.
As recounted in the video below, Simpson has managed to get in touch with the current rights holders in Holland to the Commodore brand and is planning to 'reboot' the company with a series of new products. He's even looking to launch a new charity called Commodore Care, which will spread the "spark of joy" with underprivileged children. Simpson—who has also acted in more Star Wars movies than the average person—even says plans are afoot to build a 'Commodore arcade' within Caudwell Children's HQ in the UK.
It all sounds amazing, but long-suffering Commodore fans will be keenly aware that we've been here before; since the original company went bankrupt in 1994, the name has changed hands multiple times, passing from Escom to Gateway 2000 to Tulip to its current resting place with a Dutch firm. It's also worth noting that the Amiga trademark was spun off in a separate deal and won't be part of Simpson's proposal—unless he's able to obtain a license, of course.