{"id":667180,"date":"2026-07-01T02:33:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T02:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/667180\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T02:33:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T02:33:22","slug":"commodore-says-response-to-callback-8020-has-surpassed-expectations-as-use-of-genai-continues-to-cause-concern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/667180\/","title":{"rendered":"Commodore Says Response To Callback 8020 Has “Surpassed Expectations” As Use Of GenAI Continues To Cause Concern"},"content":{"rendered":"

\""The<\/a> Image: Commodore International<\/p>\n

Commodore’s much-discussed Callback 8020 flip phone<\/a> goes up for pre-order<\/a> today, and, according to the company’s new CEO, Christian Simpson, the reaction to the phone has “surpassed” expectations.<\/p>\n

After a price reduction in<\/a> response to complaints<\/a>, Commodore International is also offering another $50 off for today only via the coupon code ‘CHICKENLIPS’.<\/p>\n

“The early response to the Callback 8020 has surpassed even our wildest expectations,\u201d Simpson says. “Between the hundreds of articles we\u2019ve seen in press, TV and radio appearances, and the thousands of customers who signed up to be notified when pre-orders open, we\u2019re absolutely bowled over with excitement. Not just for Commodore, but for the future. Early interest has validated everything we\u2019ve been feeling at Commodore: that, like us, the world is ready to step away from the hypnotic, fear-inducing, data-stealing devices that have come to define modern life over the last two decades.”<\/p>\n

The company’s latest promo video for the phone features music from Gregory Dillon<\/a>, and, by Commodore’s own admission, features GenAI elements.<\/p>\n

Incoming Retrocast! A transmission has broken through from a friendlier future. The flip phone is back. Pre-Orders are open for the Commodore Callback 8020. https:\/\/t.co\/bjNZPL9glb<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb5 by @frutigerdillon<\/a> #y2k<\/a> #flipphone<\/a> #2000s<\/a> #y2kstyle<\/a> #digitaldetox<\/a> #frutigeraero<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0O8aHIyAEr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Official Commodore\u00ae (@commodoreofcl) June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

“Some screen images simulated. Device design not final and subject to change,” says the company<\/a>. “The primary featured performer(s) in this material is\/are real individual(s) who were engaged and compensated for their participation. Other featured individuals are AI-generated and do not represent real persons.”<\/p>\n

Some of the reaction online to this new promo video has been predictably hostile. “I don’t understand why you continue to use AI-generated video adverts; you know very well that everyone hates AI,” says CommodoreBlog<\/a>. “You have a whole team behind you, including Leonard Tramiel. Why are these people not participating in proper Commodore advertising?”<\/p>\n

“There are C64 creators who’d make smashing ads for smashing products, but instead we get ancient stuff marketed with AI at astronomical pricing,” adds voidzero<\/a>. “Do it right or not at all.”<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Hoomancs<\/a> says: “AI slop is not the future we were promised. You really want to sell GenX with slop which just takes their job? C’mon, use your brain and do great hardware.”<\/p>\n

I’ve already spoken about how Simpson and Commodore’s embrace of GenAI has caused me problems in the past<\/a>, and the company’s attempt to hand-wave such concerns only makes things even less palatable for me personally.<\/p>\n

For example, in its AI policy<\/a>, Commodore proudly states that it will never sell customer data or use it to train AI systems (both to be applauded), but it then goes on to claim that it uses AI “sparingly, responsibly, transparently, and only where it adds meaningful value without disenfranchising people.”<\/p>\n

“We use locally hosted AI wherever possible, reducing reliance on online server-based systems,” claims Commodore, which is an odd thing to say as the company clearly doesn’t have its own internal AI model and Simpson, via his YouTube channel<\/a>, has admitted to utilising the services of Runway, MidJourney, Leonardo and InsightFace \u2013 all of which will have consumed the data provided and added it to their own pool of highly contentious training data.<\/p>\n

“AI helps us improve workflows, clean up audio, assist with image correction, and place team-created renders into visual scenarios while physical products are finalized,” says Commodore. “We still hire artists, designers, editors, photographers, actors, and artisans. When we generate or use human likenesses, they are based on real people who are compensated.”<\/p>\n

Again, there’s a crucial point being willfully missed here \u2013 current AI models are trained on a staggering amount of human-made content<\/a>, including photos, video, music and more \u2013 and saying you’re compensating one actor doesn’t immediately get you off the hook for the millions of other people whose data has been used to train a model without compensation or permission<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And that’s before we come to the issue that GenAI is creating environmental issues<\/a>, displacing workers<\/a>, spreading misinformation<\/a> and more \u2013 all things that you’d assume Commodore’s ‘digital detox’ stance would immediately cause the company to push back against.<\/p>\n

\"Previous<\/a><\/p>\n

Prev<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Next<\/a><\/p>\n

Next <\/a><\/p>\n

\"Damien<\/p>\n

Damien has been writing professionally about tech and video games since 2007 and oversees all of Hookshot Media’s sites from an editorial perspective. He’s also the editor of Time Extension<\/a>, the network’s newest site, which \u2013 paradoxically \u2013 is all about gaming’s past glories.<\/p>\n