Take-Two laid off the pinnacle its AI division and an undisclosed variety of workers

Take-Two, the proprietor of Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Video games, has seemingly laid off the pinnacle of its AI division, Luke Dicken, and several other workers members working below him. “​​It’s really disappointing that I’ve to share with you that my time with T2 — and that of my group — has come to an finish,” Dicken shared in a LinkedIn post noticed by Game Developer.

When requested to verify the layoffs in its AI division, Take-Two declined to remark.

Dicken writes that his group was “growing innovative expertise to help sport improvement” and his submit particularly notes that he is looking for roles for employees with expertise in issues like “procedural content material for video games” and “machine studying.” It is unclear how many individuals aside from Dicken have been impacted by these layoffs, however the timing does appear a bit uncommon for Take-Two.

Like some other large game publishers, Take-Two has “actively embraced” generative AI instruments to “drive efficiencies” and “cut back prices.” Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has even framed AI as having a optimistic impact on employment, noting that generative AI “won’t cut back employment, it can improve employment,” as a result of “expertise at all times will increase productiveness, which in flip will increase GDP, which in flip will increase employment.”

It is too early to characterize these layoffs as some form of tide turning towards AI — like different large sport corporations, Take-Two additionally just does a lot of layoffs — however it’s fascinating they’re occurring now, whereas the corporate is rushing in the direction of the discharge of Grand Theft Auto VI. The sequel is expected to be a big hit, one that ought to give Take-Two loads of monetary wiggle-room to experiment with new expertise.