Take-Two CEO: AI Can’t Create a Game on the Level of Grand Theft Auto

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has once again commented on the role of artificial intelligence in the gaming industry. According to him, AI is unlikely to ever create a game on the scale of Grand Theft Auto, as it inherently looks backward and relies on existing data.

"Let’s say there were no constraints [on AI]. Could we push a button tomorrow and create an equivalent to the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ marketing plan?” he said. “The answer is no. A, you can’t do that yet, and B, I am of the view that you wouldn’t end up with anything very good. You end up with something pretty derivative.

The team’s creativity is extraordinary, and what Rockstar Games tries to do, and so far has done over and over again, is create something that approaches perfection. There is no creativity that can exist by definition in any AI model, because it is data-driven".

Zelnick also reminded that Take-Two remains one of the few independent publishers left in the industry following Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard and EA’s $55 billion deal with Saudi Arabia’s investment fund.

The company’s portfolio currently includes 11 franchises that have each sold over 5 million copies, along with more than 20 mobile titles.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch on May 26, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. A new trailer might be on the horizon — yesterday, users noticed that Rockstar completely redesigned the homepage of its official website.