Take-Two Interactive Reportedly Cuts AI Team Amid Strategic Shift

Take-Two Interactive has reportedly disbanded its artificial intelligence team as part of an internal restructuring driven by shifting priorities.

The move was revealed by former head of AI Luke Dicken, who shared on LinkedIn that his tenure with the company had come to an end. Dicken noted that the team had spent years developing advanced technologies to support game development workflows, combining innovation with practical design solutions.

Former senior director of AI development Jason Leon also confirmed the layoffs, stating that changes in upper management priorities had directly impacted the team. He highlighted the group’s work over the past six years, including efforts to apply emerging technologies to real-world game development challenges.

Multiple team members indicated they were affected, though the company declined to comment publicly on the layoffs.

Despite the cuts, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick emphasized that the company remains committed to AI. He said Take-Two has long incorporated machine learning and artificial intelligence into its products and is currently running hundreds of AI-related initiatives across its studios.

Zelnick also clarified the company’s stance on generative AI, stressing that while such tools can improve efficiency and reduce costs, they do not replace creativity. He pointed to Grand Theft Auto VI as an example, noting that the game’s world is entirely handcrafted by developers rather than generated by AI.

He concluded that while AI can support development, it is ultimately a tool—not a substitute for the creative process behind building compelling entertainment experiences.