Elon Musk has suggested that artificial intelligence could enable anyone to generate their own version of Grand Theft Auto 6 in just a few minutes, a claim that has drawn a sharp response from Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games.
The exchange began earlier in 2026 when Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), responded to a post from the GTA 6 Countdown fan page with a simple “yeah” to the idea that AI might soon allow users to create their own GTA 6 experience without needing to wait for the official release. The fan page had shared a statement attributed to Musk suggesting there was “a non-zero chance we obtain ‘generate your own GTA 6 in a few minutes’ before GTA 6.”
Zelnick addressed the comment during a conversation at the Semafor World Economy 2026 event, where he questioned Musk’s stance by pointing out the irony that if AI were poised to displace jobs, Musk himself—given his extensive involvement in AI development through companies like xAI and Tesla—would be a prime candidate for replacement.
“If AI were going to get rid of employment, the richest man on Earth, Elon Musk, knows a little something about AI, last time I checked,” Zelnick said. “He has unlimited financial resources and he has unlimited human resources, and he has, apparently, an unlimited number of ideas. He knows his way around AI.”
He added, “The man works 20 hours a day. If AI were going to take anyone’s job, wouldn’t it take his job? The richest guy on Earth, wouldn’t that be job number one for AI to take? Why is he so busy?”
Zelnick emphasized that while he views AI as a tool that can enhance productivity for average workers, he remains skeptical about the notion that it could replicate the creative and technical effort behind a title like Grand Theft Auto 6. He noted that despite integrating AI into his own workflow, he finds himself working harder than ever.
The official trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 was released in December 2023, and the game is scheduled for release in fall 2025. Take-Two has confirmed that development is being led by Rockstar Games, with no indication that generative AI is being used to create core game content.
Industry analysts have noted that while AI is being explored for auxiliary tasks such as quality assurance testing, asset generation, and localization, the narrative design, world-building, and gameplay mechanics of major titles like GTA 6 continue to rely heavily on human-led development teams.
Rockstar Games has not publicly detailed its use of AI in the development process, but Take-Two has stated in investor briefings that it sees AI as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for human creativity in game design.
The debate highlights broader tensions in the entertainment industry over the role of generative AI in creative fields, particularly as tools for image, video, and code generation become more advanced. However, experts caution that current AI systems lack the contextual understanding, iterative storytelling, and cultural nuance required to produce a commercially viable, critically acclaimed open-world game at the scale of GTA 6.
As of April 2026, Take-Two Interactive’s stock has remained stable amid ongoing investor interest in the commercial prospects of Grand Theft Auto 6, which is projected to be one of the highest-grossing entertainment launches of the year.
No official statement has been issued by Elon Musk or X in response to Zelnick’s remarks. Representatives for Take-Two Interactive did not respond to requests for further comment on the exchange.
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