Artist Highlights Issues with AI-Generated 3D Models

Reading Time
2 min
Published
November 5, 2024
Source
gamedeveloper.com

Artist Highlights Issues with AI-Generated 3D Models

Key Takeaway

AI-generated 3D models in game development present challenges and quality issues

Summary

3D artist Liz Edwards outlined traits of AI-generated 3D models in game development, including baked-in lighting, high polygon counts, and messy UV maps. These models often lack symmetry and have melded parts, causing animation difficulties. Concerns exist about transparency in AI asset creation, particularly on marketplaces where AI-generated models may not be tagged as such. This can lead to issues in game development pipelines and hiring processes.

Business Implications

**For game development companies:** You may face challenges integrating AI-generated 3D models into your existing pipelines. These models' quirks, such as baked-in lighting and high polygon counts, could increase production costs and timelines. You'll need to invest in additional quality control measures and potentially retrain your artists to work with and refine AI-generated assets. **For 3D asset marketplaces:** You must develop clear policies and tagging systems for AI-generated content. Failure to do so may lead to legal issues and loss of customer trust. Consider implementing AI detection tools to ensure transparency in your offerings. **For hiring managers in creative industries:** You'll need to update your screening processes to distinguish between AI-generated and human-created portfolios. This may require developing new assessment techniques or practical tests to evaluate candidates' genuine skills.

Future Outlook

**For the gaming industry:** Expect a shift in skill requirements for 3D artists. Proficiency in refining and optimizing AI-generated models will become increasingly valuable. You may see the emergence of specialized roles focused on AI asset management and integration. **For game engine developers:** Anticipate demand for built-in tools to handle AI-generated assets more efficiently. This includes features for automatic UV map cleanup, polygon reduction, and symmetry correction. **For AI developers:** There's a clear opportunity to refine 3D model generation algorithms to address current limitations. Focus on creating models with clean topology, proper UV mapping, and animation-ready structures to capture a larger market share in the game development tool ecosystem. **For regulatory bodies:** Prepare for potential calls to establish standards for AI-generated content in commercial products. You may need to develop guidelines for transparency and quality control in AI-assisted creative workflows.