Take-Two CEO: AI Boosts Gaming Creativity, Not Job Cuts

Strauss Zelnick, chief executive of TakeTwo Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games and publisher of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, stated at the Semafor World Economy 2026 event that artificial intelligence will enhance creativity in video game development rather than eliminate jobs for artists and developers. Speaking on a panel titled "Leadership in an Uncertain World," Zelnick argued that AI tools will free workers from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on more innovative aspects of their roles.

Zelnick emphasized that technological advancements, including AI, have historically boosted productivity and employment rather than causing widespread displacement. He dismissed concerns about job losses as overstated, pointing to the evolution of game design tools over the decades. "When I started in the video game business, which was, believe it or not, 1993, if you wanted to create a lawn, an artist had to create individual blades of grass otherwise, it looked like concrete," Zelnick said. "Today, pre-AI, if one of my artists wants to create a lawn, they press the lawn button, and that populates a lawn. So just imagine AI does that on steroids."