Take-Two’s Head of AI Departs, Even Though Its CEO Was “Very Enthusiastic” About the Technology

by

Following comments dismissing the idea that AI could create games similar to Grand Theft Auto 6, Take-Two Interactive appears to have terminated the employment of its Head of Artificial Intelligence, Luke Dicken. Dicken, who previously worked as a data scientist at Zynga before it was acquired, announced on LinkedIn that he had left the company.

I’m sad to announce that my team and I are leaving T2. I’ll share more detailed thoughts about my time at Zynga and with T2 in about a week. Right now, I’d really appreciate any help you can offer in finding these incredibly talented people new jobs, especially given the current job market.

So, I heard from Dicken that the team’s been working on some really cool tech for game development for seven years now. Basically, they’re experts at combining new ideas and clever solutions with solid design to build tools that actually make a developer’s life easier throughout the whole process. They don’t just innovate for the sake of it; they focus on making things genuinely useful.

It’s unclear why these individuals departed, but their exit is surprising given Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick’s views on AI. Although he recently dismissed its use in Grand Theft Auto 6, stating it played “zero part,” he has consistently expressed enthusiasm for the technology in general.

Our company has long used machine learning and artificial intelligence in our products, and we’re a recognized leader in this field. We currently have numerous projects and applications running throughout the company, even within our creative studios. We’re beginning to see how generative AI tools can save us both time and money.

He pointed out there’s no proof these tools can independently produce truly excellent games, and doesn’t expect that to change. Take-Two might be proactively cutting jobs, anticipating a possible downturn in the AI industry, or they may simply feel their current tools are good enough and don’t see a need to invest in further development.

No matter what, Grand Theft Auto 6 is being carefully developed by Rockstar North, with reported costs of around $2 billion and still rising, according to UK records. The game has already been delayed twice and is currently scheduled to release on November 19th. We might see a new trailer, or at least some more information, this summer as part of the game’s marketing campaign.

Read More

2026-04-03 17:42