Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has called out Anthropic and OpenAI over AI tools that let users clone existing video games, arguing that companies whose own businesses rest on intellectual property should protect other people's IP as well. Zelnick made the comments in an interview with IGN ahead of the November 19 launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
He was answering a question about whether he would like to see more AI companies restrict users from reverse engineering games. Zelnick framed the issue as one of consistency for the model makers themselves.
“I think all companies should be protecting intellectual property, their own and everyone else's”— Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive
Anthropic and OpenAI are in the intellectual property business, Zelnick said, which makes it ironic on the one hand to stomp on someone else's IP while hoping their own is protected.
Key facts
- 01Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick criticized Anthropic and OpenAI for AI tools that let users clone existing video games.
- 02Zelnick made the remarks in an interview with IGN ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI's November 19 launch.
- 03Anthropic recently added a rule blocking Claude users from recreating someone else's specific game.
- 04Anthropic's Addy Osmani said original games, genre games and games built from users' own assets should keep working.
- 05Some Steam developers have canceled demos or playtests over fears their games would be cloned before release.
The remarks come as AI-built copycat games have become more common on PC storefronts. Some developers on Steam have canceled demos or playtests over concerns that their games would be cloned and sold before release, and clones of one recent indie hit quickly flooded the store.
Anthropic has already moved on the problem. The company recently added a rule to Claude that blocks users from recreating someone else's specific game, after reports that developers had seen their work copied within minutes. Addy Osmani, a member of Anthropic's technical staff, said at the time that using Claude to infringe IP is against the company's usage policy.
“Original games, genre games, and games built from your own designs and assets are meant to keep working.”— Addy Osmani, Member of technical staff at Anthropic
The restriction could also affect AI-assisted fan recompilations, a category that has included projects based on Mario Kart Wii, Banjo-Tooie and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. OpenAI does not appear to have a comparable restriction in place for now.
Zelnick's objection is about principle more than revenue. Reports of the same interview say he does not see AI-generated Grand Theft Auto clones as a financial threat to Take-Two's business.
Take-Two's comments land five days before Grand Theft Auto VI arrives on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Working on something we should cover, or seeing a story we missed? Send leads, documents, or feedback to hello@aichatdaily.com. For sensitive tips, see our secure tips page for Signal and PGP options.
Spotted an error? Email hello@aichatdaily.com with the URL and the issue, or read our full corrections policy.
