The idea that artificial intelligence could create a game like Grand Theft Auto 6 sounds bold, and Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is not buying it. He recently pushed back against Elon Musk’s claim that users could soon “generate your own GTA 6 in a few minutes.”
Speaking during an on-stage talk at the Semafor World Economy 2026 conference, Zelnick dismissed the idea that generative AI could replace human developers. He even took a direct jab at Musk, saying: “If AI were to take anyone’s job, wouldn’t it take his [Elon Musk’s] job? Like the richest guy on earth, wouldn’t that be job number one for AI to take? Why is he so busy?”
He also added, “And by the way, why am I working harder than ever despite the fact that I’ve totally accepted AI to every part of my life. Maybe Elon Musk is indeed a simulation, it’s possible. I mean in fairness, if you were gonna choose a person who were a simulation, he would be my number one choice.”
Previously, Zelnick explained that AI is not capable of true creativity. According to him, generative AI is “backward-looking” because it is trained on existing data. This means it can remix ideas, but it cannot create something truly new like a major game. He argued that big projects like GTA 6 must be “handcrafted” and created “out of thin air” by people. Because of that, he called the idea of making a game like GTA 6 with AI “laughable.”
Zelnick has also made it clear that Rockstar Games is not using generative AI for GTA 6. He confirmed that AI has “zero part” in the game’s development. Instead, the game world is being built carefully by developers, “building by building, street by street.” GTA 6 is currently scheduled for release on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
