CGTrader data shows one in six 3D models uploaded to the site is AI generated, yet those files generate only $1 for every $90 in total revenue.
The supply gap
The marketplace recorded a surge in uploads between June 2025 and May 2026. Revenue figures suggest most people are not interested in paying for the output. A press release from the company stated buyers are voting with their wallets.
Alexander Spivak, a 3D artist selling assets on the platform, told me he has not found a way to collaborate with AI. He said the process of creation is the most important part of his work. He added he has not been able to integrate the technology into his workflow without losing enjoyment of that process.
Spivak noted the result is a completely different story. He has not yet been able to use the tool to continue enjoying the creation phase.
Quality is the barrier
Buyers told CGTrader they are not purchasing as many AI files because they are not as good as human-made models. Quality is the number one factor in choosing what they buy, even more than price. This was especially important for those wanting models for 3D printing, where a bad file could break or fail to print correctly.
Only 4 percent of buyers said AI works well for 3D printing. The survey found most people who bought AI generated assets were not satisfied with them. Twenty percent found the results not good enough. Seven percent used the files only with heavy editing. Five percent said the output worked well.
CGTrader announced a partnership with Tencent on an AI powered 3D model creation workflow in the months leading up to this report. Dalia Lašaitė, the company CEO, told me the workflow does not just generate assets from scratch.
She said designers can use the tool to refine topology and textures. They can also segment parts, create variations and prepare models for production.
Lašaitė said AI can accelerate the more mechanical parts of the process. She noted the designer retains creative direction and control over the final result. For that reason, she thinks of the work as AI-accelerated rather than simply AI-generated.
Her goal is not to increase the volume of AI-made assets on the marketplace. She wants to give designers better tools to work faster and focus more time on creative work. Ultimately, buyers will choose the assets that best meet their needs. She said the distinction that matters most is whether an asset meets the required quality standard.
Discoverability issues
AI generated content is creating a discoverability problem across the internet. On Instagram, porn sites, YouTube, and music streamers, human creators are being drowned out by a flood of AI generated slop.
Lašaitė acknowledged that despite the discrepancy between uploads and purchases, the increase in uploads alone could make it more difficult to find human artists.
She said AI uploads are currently growing faster than AI purchases. This makes effective discovery and ranking increasingly important. The company approach is to prioritise quality and performance signals rather than raw volume. This includes how an asset performs commercially, how buyers rate it and other indicators of quality.
What it means
Artists can expect to face more competition from files that are cheaper to produce but often fail to meet quality standards. The market is filtering out low-quality AI output, meaning human-made assets that demonstrate a clear creative process will likely retain their value.
