Take-Two Interactive, parent of Rockstar Games, has laid off its entire AI team, including head Luke Dicken, who announced the move on LinkedIn. The decision follows CEO Strauss Zelnick's recent skepticism about AI's creative potential and contrasts with peers ramping up investments in the technology. The company declined to comment.
Luke Dicken, head of Take-Two's AI division, announced on LinkedIn that his seven-year tenure—and that of his entire team—has ended, describing it as 'truly disappointing.' The team developed cutting-edge technologies, including procedural content generation and machine learning, to support game development workflows. Dicken, who previously spent a decade at Zynga as senior director of applied AI, is now seeking new roles for his staff and has launched LuDic AI, a consulting service for AI best practices in games and adjacent sectors. The layoffs were first spotted by Game Developer. Take-Two, known for Grand Theft Auto via Rockstar Games, did not respond to requests for comment and is preparing for Grand Theft Auto VI. Previously, CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed optimism about generative AI boosting productivity and jobs. However, he recently downplayed its threat to creativity, stating, 'Every entertainment business that was supposed to be destroyed by new technology hasn't been,' citing calculators that did not end math education. This stance differs from companies like Krafton, Square Enix, and EA, which have increased AI investments, including replacing human roles in translation and art.
