Take-Two’s former AI guy is, in a twist, skeptical about AI now: ‘The guy should be selling you the gold if he’s actually got the gold’
Take-Two Interactive’s former director of applied AI, hired in 2019 when generative AI technology was still emerging, has become vocally skeptical about the AI industry despite his previous leadership position at one of gaming’s largest publishers. The executive, who previously worked as a data scientist at Zynga, was laid off approximately a year into his tenure along with much of his AI team.
Now departing from his industry role, the former Take-Two AI leader has begun criticizing the disconnect between AI marketing promises and actual delivery. His key assertion: “If any of this sh*t actually did what people are billing it as, they would not be talking about it.” This critique suggests that if AI tools truly delivered on their claimed capabilities, companies would use them quietly for competitive advantage rather than publicly promoting them—implying much of current AI discourse is driven by sales pitches rather than proven utility.
His skepticism represents a significant reversal from his previous insider position, reflecting growing doubt within the technology sector about whether current AI solutions justify the extensive hype surrounding them. Take-Two’s decision to lay off its AI department despite initially investing in the capability suggests the publisher concluded the technology wasn’t delivering expected value, at least at that time. This development highlights broader tensions between AI ambitions and business realities in the gaming industry, where promised breakthroughs have yet to materialize into widespread practical applications.