Dan Houser, co-creator of the "Grand Theft Auto" series and former Rockstar Games writer, has once again publicly leveled sharp criticism against generative AI. He stated that the core figures driving this technology forward are "not the most human, nor the most creative people," warning that the trajectory of generative AI might be steered by individuals who are "not entirely sound."
In a recent interview on Virgin Radio's "The Chris Evans Breakfast Show" in the UK, Dan Houser discussed his new book, "A Better Paradise Volume One: An Aftermath." The story depicts a game project spiraling into disaster due to out-of-control AI, reflecting his deep concerns about the current state of technology.
When host Chris Evans asked if he agreed that "AI is good at gathering information but will never replace human creativity because it lacks the human spirit," Houser readily concurred. He emphasized that the loudest voices advocating for AI often come from individuals with limited understanding of creativity or humanity, yet these same people aim to redefine the future of humankind through technology.
"Some of the people who are trying to define humanity, or even civilization, through AI are not the most human, nor the most creative people themselves," Houser remarked. He further criticized these tech leaders for seemingly proclaiming, "We understand how to be human better than humans do," a narrative he finds clearly unfounded.
Addressing whether AI could truly become the next revolutionary breakthrough its developers claim, Houser expressed skepticism. He pointed out that generative AI's input source is the entire internet, but as internet content becomes increasingly saturated with AI-generated data, the models will enter a vicious cycle, ultimately leading AI to devour itself.
He likened this to the spread of mad cow disease, where cattle fed beef eventually succumb to illness. "When more and more of the data source is AI-generated content, I don't see how the quality of information will improve," he stated.
Last week, Houser also appeared on the program "Sunday Brunch," where he mentioned that while his new company, Absurd Ventures, is "experimenting with AI," its actual effectiveness falls far short of what tech companies promote. He noted that "a lot of AI is just being used to pump up stock prices or create the illusion of 'major technological breakthroughs.'"
He added that all technological innovations face a similar bottleneck: "The first 80% of progress happens quickly, but the final 20%—getting the technology to seamlessly integrate with reality—is extremely difficult to achieve." Since AI learning differs from traditional computer development, the duration required for that crucial last mile remains an unanswered question.