Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says AI fears are overstated, pushes back on Elon Musk's GTA 6 claims
10 Sources
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'People spend too much time talking about the 'Woe is me' risk related to AI' -- GTA 6 publisher CEO says AI fears are overstated
As the gaming public eagerly awaits the next trailer for Rockstar Games' much-anticipated "Grand Theft Auto 6", Take-Two (the publisher behind Rockstar Games) CEO Strauss Zelnick is making the rounds to speak at assorted events. Zelnick made a recent appearance for an on-stage discussion at
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'If AI were to take anyone's job, wouldn't it take Elon Musk's job? The richest guy on Earth?' -- Take-Two CEO says AI won't get rid of jobs, but allow artists to do 'higher quality work' instead
The CEO recently said the idea that AI tools could create GTA 6 is "a laughable notion" * Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says there are benefits to AI * Zelnick says AI will allow Take-Two's creators to focus on more "higher quality work" * He adds that AI is more likely to take Elon Musk's
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Elon Musk is more at risk of losing his job to AI than artists are according to Take-Two's CEO: 'If AI were going to take anyone's job, wouldn't it take his job?'
Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two Interactive was recently asked about the integration of AI within games like Grand Theft Auto 6, what its actual use case is, and what it means for artists and other developers. Surprisingly, Zelnick isn't worried about the job security of his artists, instead
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Take-Two boss says AI meets company's business tenants, reiterates tech won't replace creatives and artists
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick talks about his thoughts and views on AI, saying that the technology can help supercharge the creative potential of artists by reducing mundane work. AI adoption is on the rise as video game companies seek ways to reduce costs and speed up production schedules. The
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Take-Two CEO says if AI replaces anyone, it should be Elon Musk after his claim GTA 6 could come from gen-AI before Rockstar: "The richest guy on Earth, wouldn't that be job number one for AI to take?"
Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of GTA 6 publisher Take-Two, has responded to comments made by Elon Musk about how the profundity of generative AI will change game development. In short, he disagrees and takes a shot at the Tesla CEO. Back in January, Musk agreed with a Twitter user that, "There's
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Elon Musk Says AI Could Make GTA 6 'In Minutes' -- Take-Two CEO Fires Back - Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ:TT
Elon Musk Agrees GTA 6 Could Be Made 'In Minutes' With AI -- Take‑Two CEO Fires Back: 'Wouldn't It Take His Job?' * What's next for TTWO stock? Musk Says AI Quicker For Video Games Along with disrupting several sectors with AI and the creation of xAI, billionaire Elon Musk has set his sights on
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The Elon Musk vs GTA VI controversy explained
A lot of people are hyped for the release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November, but not Elon Musk. After around eight years of development, GTA VI is widely expected to be the biggest game of all time, but the CEO of Tesla reckons AI could generate it "in a few seconds", perhaps before it comes out
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Can AI Build GTA 6 in Minutes? Take-Two CEO Hits Back at Elon Musk's Bold Claim
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick challenges Elon Musk-backed claims that AI could generate GTA 6 in minutes, arguing that complex game development still relies on human creativity despite rapid advances in artificial intelligence tools A social media exchange between Elon Musk and Guillermo Rauch has
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'The Richest Guy on Earth, Wouldn't That Be Job Number 1 for AI to Take?' -- Take-Two CEO Jabs Elon Musk After Tesla Boss Suggested Artificial Intelligence Can Make GTA 6
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has suggested that Elon Musk might want to watch out for artificial intelligence taking his job after the Tesla boss proposed that Grand Theft Auto 6 could be generated by AI. The gaming bigwig, who oversees major subsidiaries within Take-Two like 2K and Rockstar
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Elon Musk claims AI could soon make games like GTA 6 in minutes, Take Two CEO responds
Earlier this year, a social media banter between Elon Musk and AI Tech CEO Guillermo Rauch went viral. The two tech leaders agreed that GTA 6 could be made in minutes thanks to AI. In other words, they claimed that before Rockstar Games releases the long-awaited game, the deed can be carried out by
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Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick dismissed concerns that AI will replace creative jobs, arguing the technology will free artists from mundane work instead. Speaking at Semafor World Economy 2026, he challenged Elon Musk's claim that AI could generate GTA 6, asking why the richest person on Earth still works 20 hours a day if AI truly eliminates employment.
Strauss Zelnick Challenges the Narrative Around AI and Job Displacement
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick delivered a pointed rebuttal to widespread concerns about AI replacing human workers, particularly in the creative industry. Speaking at the Semafor World Economy 2026 event, Zelnick argued that AI fears are overstated and that people "spend too much time talking about the 'woe is me' risk" instead of recognizing the technology's potential benefits
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. While acknowledging that any technology can be used for harmful purposes, the Take-Two executive emphasized that innovation is inevitable and companies must learn to use it responsibly.
Source: TweakTown
AI Won't Replace Creatives, According to Take-Two's Strategy
Zelnick outlined how AI aligns with Take-Two's three-part business strategy: "be the most creative, be the most innovative, be the most efficient." He explained that AI as a tool for artists helps reduce mundane work, allowing creators to focus on higher-quality output
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. Drawing from his experience in the video game business since 1993, he illustrated how technology has evolved: "When I started, if you wanted to create a lawn, an artist had to create individual blades of grass; otherwise, it looked like concrete. Today, pre-AI, if one of my artists wants to create a lawn, they press the lawn button." He suggested generative AI in gaming would amplify this automation, freeing game developers and artists from repetitive tasks like automating mundane tasks2
.When asked about potential layoffs at Take-Two Interactive, Zelnick rejected the premise entirely. He argued that current AI models are trained on past data and cannot truly invent something new, making human creativity irreplaceable
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. "The creature button is going to take data using AI which is backward-looking and we need to make creatures that are forward-looking to make hits," he stated3
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Source: GamesRadar
Elon Musk's View on AI Sparks Sharp Response from Zelnick
The Take-Two CEO directly challenged Elon Musk's claims about AI potentially generating its own version of GTA 6. In January, Musk had agreed with social media users suggesting there's "a non-zero chance we get 'generate your own GTA 6 in a few minutes' before GTA 6"
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. Zelnick delivered a fiery rebuttal: "If AI were going to get rid of employment, the richest man on Earth, Elon Musk, knows a little something about AI, last time I checked. He has unlimited financial resources, and he has unlimited human resources, and he has, apparently, an unlimited number of ideas. He knows his way around AI. The man works 20 hours a day. If AI were going to take anyone's job, wouldn't it take his job? The richest guy on Earth, wouldn't that be job number one for AI to take?"1
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In an earlier interview with The Game Business, Zelnick called the notion that AI could create something at the scale of Grand Theft Auto "a laughable notion," emphasizing that "it's just never been the case with entertainment"
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. He argued that while AI tools may help create assets, they cannot generate hits or replicate the creative magic that Rockstar Games demonstrates with GTA 6 development4
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What This Means for the Gaming Industry and Beyond
Zelnick's comments arrive as AI adoption accelerates across the gaming sector, with publishers seeking ways to reduce costs and speed up production schedules
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. The technology remains contentious because cost reductions are being used to justify layoffs while AI simultaneously handles more widespread tasks. However, Zelnick offered a historical perspective on productivity and employment: "Technology creates productivity, productivity creates GDP, GDP creates more employment. Remember the paperless office? We were promised because of digital technology we'd have a paperless office. We use more paper in offices today than ever before"3
.For gamers and creators watching GTA 6 development at Rockstar Games, Zelnick's stance suggests Take-Two won't become overly dependent on generative AI. This matters because gamers have already shown resistance to AI-generated art in recent titles
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. The question remains whether other publishers will follow Take-Two's approach or favor mass-manufactured designs that are cheaper and faster to produce3
. As AI and job replacement debates intensify, Zelnick's perspective highlights the tension between automation and human creativity in shaping the future of entertainment.
Source: Tom's Guide
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