Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser: The People Pushing AI "Aren't Fully Rounded Humans"
Dan Houser, the creative force and writer behind massive cultural hits like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, has a stark warning for creatives. He believes the people leading the charge for generative AI are not the most humane or creative individuals.
His point is that humanity is being pulled in a new direction by a group of people who may not be the best pilots for the journey.
The Problem With The Pilots
Speaking on a radio show about his new book, Houser explained his criticism of AI's leadership. "Some of these people trying to define the future of humanity, creativity, or whatever it is using AI are not the most humane or creative people," he said.
He sees a disconnect. "They're sort of saying 'we're better at being human than you are', and it's obviously not true." The issue is a specific group attempting to set the course for everyone else, a group he suggests are "not fully rounded humans."
Why AI Will Eat Itself
Houser doesn't believe the current AI wave will be the runaway success its proponents claim. He predicts a strange, self-defeating loop. "I personally don't think it will, because I think AI is eventually going to eat itself," he stated.
His analogy is simple and grim. "It's sort of like when we fed cows with cows and got mad cow disease." Since AI models train on internet data, and the internet is becoming flooded with AI-generated content, the models will eventually be training on their own output. The quality has nowhere to go but down.
Hype vs. Practical Use
Houser has repeatedly warned about the difference between the marketing and the reality of AI. He admits his new company, Absurd Ventures, is "dabbling in using AI" but finds that "the truth is a lot of it's not as useful as some of the companies would have you believe yet".
He suspects much of the noise is financially motivated, suggesting "some of it's just to sell AI stock, or to convince everyone this is transformative." While some aspects are impressive, many processes are just things "computers are already doing."
The Final 20% Is The Hardest
For creatives, the most interesting part of Houser's thinking might be his take on technological progress. He notes that with innovation, "the first 80% is quite easy, and the last 20% - to make it a perfect simulation of something in the real world - is very, very hard."
That final 20% is where true art and human spirit live. Houser's perspective is a reminder that while the tech world chases itself, authentic creativity remains a human endeavor. To stay ahead, it pays to understand the machine you're working with, or against. Learning how to direct these tools is a skill entirely separate from the creative act itself.
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