Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive has laid off its head of artificial intelligence, Luke Dicken, amid wider cuts to the AI department. This news comes just weeks after CEO Strauss Zelnick said in an interview that the technology would never be able to create “big hits” like GTA 6 “because it’s built on data that already exists.”
As reported by Insider Gaming, this was revealed by Dicken himself in a now-deleted post to LinkedIn; “It’s truly disappointing that I have to share with you that my time with T2 — and that of my team — has come to an end,” he said. “I will take the time in a week or so to make a more reflective post on my time with Zynga and T2, but for right now I would appreciate your help in finding these awesome talented folks new positions.
It’s truly disappointing that I have to share with you that my time with T2 — and that of my team — has come to an end.
“We’ve been developing cutting edge technology to support game development now for 7 years,” he continued. “These folks know how to match innovation and novel problem solving approaches with strong product design chops to create systems that empower people throughout the development workflow.”
Zelnick Says Using AI To “Generate A Hit” Is A “Laughable Notion”
It’s unclear how many employees within the AI division have been let go, or why these layoffs took place, as Take-Two has not yet issued a statement on the matter. Nonetheless, while Zelnick has expressed interest in the tools and how they can make it “easier” to develop games, he has repeatedly voiced doubt that they will ever replace humans.
“There is no creativity that can exist by definition in any AI model, because it is data-driven,” he said last year. “Let’s say there were no constraints. Could we push a button tomorrow and create an equivalent to the Grand Theft Auto marketing plan? The answer is no.” In fact, last month, he went as far as to say that “it’s a laughable notion.”
