AI and the 3D model market: opportunities and challenges for CGTrader

In brief

• AI-generated items make up about 16% of new listings on CGTrader, but only 1% of sales.
• Only 5% of buyers are satisfied with AI-generated goods, mainly because of quality issues.
• The future of AI-generated media in the 3D market remains uncertain, with questions around adoption and strategy.

The 3D model market, with CGTrader as one of its key players, is facing a major challenge. Even though AI-generated models account for a significant share of new listings, sales figures do not match those numbers. Only 1% of sales on CGTrader involve AI-generated items, raising the question of why this technology is not being adopted more widely. Dalia Lašaitė and Emanuel Maiberg recently published survey results showing that quality is the main reason buyers skip AI-generated goods. This is a crucial point, especially since buyer satisfaction stands at just 5%.

GAME-scanner analysis

The gap between the availability of AI-generated models and sales figures can have several causes. First, the quality of these models is often not at the level buyers expect. This may be due to the current limits of AI technology when it comes to creating complex and detailed 3D objects. In addition, the long-term acceptance of AI-generated media in the 3D market has not yet been established. The question remains how CGTrader will adjust its strategy to match buyer preferences, especially as most users still prefer traditional, handcrafted models.

What does this mean for players?

For gamers and developers who rely on 3D models for their projects, it is important to know that current AI-generated models may not meet their expectations. This could affect the quality of the content they want to create. It is also an opportunity for developers to stand out by offering higher-quality handcrafted models while the technology behind AI-generated models continues to improve.