Take-Two Interactive, the publisher behind popular franchises like Grand Theft Auto, has made unexpected personnel changes. The company has laid off Luke Dicken, the head of its artificial intelligence development department, along with an unspecified number of other employees from that division.
Dicken confirmed his departure on LinkedIn, expressing disappointment and noting that his team had spent years developing advanced technologies to support game production. A significant portion of the AI unit was formed from Zynga’s applied AI department, which Take-Two acquired in 2022 for an impressive $12.7 billion.
These events seem particularly perplexing given recent statements from Take-Two CEO, Strauss Zelnick. In his addresses to investors, Zelnick actively promoted the integration of generative AI, claiming the company was already utilizing it in “hundreds of pilot projects” and implementing it across the corporation. He emphasized that AI could boost efficiency, reduce costs, and free creative professionals from routine tasks.
Such contradictory actions raise serious questions about Take-Two’s actual long-term strategy regarding artificial intelligence and its application in the gaming industry.