Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick previously responded to Elon Musk's claim that AI will be good enough to generate games on the level of Grand Theft Auto 6 by saying that it is not possible because AI only scrapes from existing data and is thus by definition derivative.
Now, Strauss has again indirectly responded to another of Musk's predictions: that humans will no longer have to work because of the automation offered by artificial intelligence, and the money generated by this technology will allow governments to provide everyone with a 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 stance at Semaphore 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, 1972. We were promised a paperless office thanks to digital technology. We use more paper in offices than ever before… just a fact and we employ more people in offices than ever before.”
“If AI wanted to get rid of jobs… the richest man on Earth, Elon Musk, knows a little something about AI last time I checked. He has unlimited financial resources, unlimited human resources, and apparently unlimited ideas. He knows AI,” Strauss continues. “That person works 20 hours a day. If AI were to take someone's job, wouldn't it take their job? The richest person on Earth… wouldn't that be the number one job for AI? Why is he so busy?”
Strauss argues that artificial intelligence, like computers before it, is at best only a tool for humans to use, rather than anything that can completely 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 host asked if Musk had already been taken over by AI. “Maybe Elon Musk really is a simulation. It's possible. Honestly, if you ever wanted to pick someone to be a simulation, he'd be my number one choice.”
Strauss and the rest of Take-Two are gearing up for the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 later this year, which is widely predicted to be the game's biggest launch ever.
- Date of establishment
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September 30, 1993
- Headquarters
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New York, New York, United States of America
