Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick previously responded to Elon Musk's claim that artificial intelligence will be good enough to generate games on the level of Grand Theft Auto 6 by saying that it is impossible because AI only scrapes from existing data, and is therefore by definition derivative.
Now, Strauss has once again indirectly answered another one of Musk's predictions: that people will not have to work anymore because of the automation offered by AI, and the money generated by the technology will allow governments to provide everyone with Universal Basic Income – because the world's richest man knows all about wealth equality, right?
Strauss has always been firm in his belief that AI will not replace jobs, and reiterated his position at Semafor World Economy 2026, a business conference (via GTA 6 Countdown).
AI will not replace jobs, says Strauss
“Does anyone remember the 'paperless office'? Do you know what year it was announced?” Strauss asked the audience. “I do, in 1972. We were promised that because of digital technology we would have a paperless office. We use more paper in offices than ever before… just a fact, and we employ more people in offices than ever before.”
“If AI were to take away jobs…the richest man on earth, Elon Musk, knows little about AI last time I checked. He has unlimited financial resources, he has unlimited human resources, and apparently has an unlimited number of ideas. He knows his way around AI,” Strauss continues. “The man works 20 hours a day. If AI were to take someone's job, wouldn't it take his job? The richest guy on earth… wouldn't that be the number one job for AI to take? Why is he so busy?”
Strauss's point is that at best artificial intelligence, like computers before it, is merely a tool that humans can use rather than something that can fully replace humanity.
“Why am I working harder than ever even though I've fully embraced AI in every part of my life?” he asked, before the moderator asked if Musk had already been taken over by AI. “Maybe Elon Musk really is a simulation. It's possible. I mean, honestly, if you were ever going to pick someone to be a simulation, he'd be my first choice.”
Strauss and the rest of Take-Two are preparing to launch Grand Theft Auto 6 later this year, which is widely predicted to be the biggest game launch in history.
- Date founded
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September 30, 1993
- Head office
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New York, New York, USA
