Take-Two CEO dismisses idea that AI can create games like Grand Theft Auto by itself

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has once again shared his opinion on generative AI tools, calling the idea of creating games using the technology alone “laughable” and insisting that the development process still depends on human creativity.

The details:

• Speaking in a new interview with The Game Business, Zelnick said he was “stunned” that some investors saw tools like Google’s Project Genie, a model that can generate interactive 3D environments from simple text and image prompts, as a threat to developers and publishers. He states that he actually believes that the tools are useful for developers, but not outright replacements.
• When asked whether Project Genie could “level the playing field” and allow small teams to build games the size of GTA 6, Zelnick rejected the idea. The CEO described the idea of AI building AAA-sized titles alone as a “laughable notion,” adding that it has “never been the case” in any entertainment medium. He used music as an example, highlighting that while AI-generated music has improved massively, it doesn’t come close to songs crafted by humans.
• Zelnick reiterated that Take-Two and its subsidiaries, including Rockstar, will continue to embrace new technology where it makes development more efficient but maintained that the company’s long‑term strategy is still rooted in human‑led design.