Take-Two CEO believes AI just another toolset for game developers and will not replace humans

In context: The AI boom has sparked controversy, with concerns ranging from the accuracy of large language models to companies rushing subpar AI products to market. The debate over AI potentially replacing human labor remains a contentious issue.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick believes that the ongoing AI revolution will not have a significant impact on the game production industry in terms of employment or creativity. While ChatGPT has demonstrated the ability to write functional game code, Zelnick doubts its ability to enhance game design or streamline the development process.

“I would like to think that AI will make things cheaper, faster, better, or easier to create successful games,” Zelnick stated in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box. “But I don’t believe that will be the case.”

Zelnick highlighted the success of Grand Theft Auto V as one of the most lucrative entertainment products ever released. He mentioned that GTA6 is poised to continue this legacy without relying on AI in the current sense. Zelnick emphasized that game studios have been utilizing AI for a long time, even before the recent surge in large language models, and he doesn’t foresee this changing. While AI may assist in certain aspects of game development, he doesn’t see it completely taking over coding tasks or other creative elements.

“The interactive entertainment industry has been utilizing AI for a long time. It’s important to remember that AI stands for artificial intelligence, which is essentially an oxymoron,” the CEO remarked. “It’s simply a description of a digital toolset.”

Zelnick believes that AI in gaming will be akin to existing tools like Blender and Unreal Engine – just another software package that developers can utilize to enhance their work. He emphasized that access to these tools will be widespread, leveling the playing field for all companies. Ultimately, it will still be human creativity that drives the success of a game.

“While our tools can certainly improve efficiency, they will eventually become commonplace. Everyone will have access to the same tools, as is the nature of toolsets. However, this means that our creative teams can focus on innovative tasks rather than mundane ones. Machines cannot make the creative decisions for us.”

Contrary to Zelnick’s perspective, Nvidia and other companies are betting on AI replacing humans in various tasks, such as writing and coding. Some developers, like Fable creator Peter Molyneux, believe that creating a game with a simple language prompt will soon be possible. Modders are already integrating AI NPCs into games, with their capabilities evolving alongside language models. Other companies are also working on toolsets similar to Zelnick’s vision.

There is a debate over whether the games industry has been lacking true creativity in recent years, given the prevalence of recycled and remastered games. Some argue that AI could potentially bring a fresh perspective to game development. What are your thoughts?