Strauss Zelnick stressed that AI is just a tool, and the genius behind games is still human.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick recently appeared on CNBC's Squawk Box following the company's latest earnings report to share insights on Grand Theft Auto 6's development, AI in gaming, and addressing longstanding concerns about video game violence. GTA keeps getting mixed up in the latter, innit?
When discussing the highly anticipated GTA 6, Zelnick emphasized Rockstar Games' commitment to excellence, stating, "What Rockstar Games puts into all of their titles is a desire for creative perfection."
He noted that this approach has paid off historically, pointing to GTA V's success across three console generations as a "standard bearer" for Rockstar Games, Take-Two and the entire industry.
Addressing the growing conversation around artificial intelligence in gaming, Zelnick gave as nuanced an explanation as you can expect from a big corporate executive trying not to commit particularly to any stance.
Though he acknowledged that the gaming industry has long been at the forefront of using digital tools, including what we now call AI, he stressed that human creativity remains paramount, saying, "The tools might be digital, but the creative genius is human."
Zelnick went further to take a firm stance on AI use in voice acting, amid ongoing discussions about actors' rights. "We believe in protecting humans and paying human beings," he declared, adding that Take-Two supports fair compensation when AI replicates an actor's work.
He assured that GTA 6's development hasn't been affected by the recent actors' strike, as production began before the labor action.
To no one's surprise, Zelnick strongly rejected suggestions that increasingly realistic gaming graphics might inspire real-world violence. "Entertainment doesn't create behavior; entertainment reflects behavior," he stated.
"The notion of entertainment creating behavior has been tested and disproved over and over again." He also drew parallels to other media forms, observing that television and movies have long featured realistic content without causing societal harm.
Speaking specifically about GTA's approach to realism, Zelnick explained that the series creates "caricatures of the real world" rather than exact replications, pointing out that all brands within the game are fictional creations rather than real-world imports.
The interview came at a high point for Take-Two, with the company's stock reaching an all-time high. However, Zelnick attributed this success not solely to GTA 6's anticipation but to the company's entire portfolio.
When asked about Take-Two's strong performance compared to competitors' disappointing results, he reiterated their goal of being "the most creative, most innovative, and most efficient company in the entertainment industry."
