AI-generated 3D models flood CGTrader but buyers still favor human-made designs

CGTrader reports that AI-created 3D models now make up about one-sixth of uploads yet generate only a tiny fraction of sales, as customers continue to prefer human-crafted assets.

CGTrader’s recent analysis of marketplace activity between June 2025 and May 2026 indicates that AI-generated 3D models now comprise about one-sixth of all uploads, yet they contribute merely $1 of every $90 in revenue and represent 2.6% of total sales. Customer feedback shows only 5% of those who tested an AI model were pleased, while 20% reported the assets fell short of expectations. CEO Dalia Lasaite says shoppers prioritize top-tier quality, which they currently associate more with human creators.

A 2025 Stanford study found users gravitated toward AI-generated art when both options were available, whereas a Pew Research Center poll from the previous year showed half of Americans liked a painting less after learning it was AI-made. Marketing professor Dennis Zhang of Washington University in St. Louis’s Olin Business School notes the surge in AI-assisted products reflects broader economic shifts, suggesting consumers will continue to value human input even as automation expands.

He also observes that AI-aided app launches have risen sharply, but user engagement with those apps remains lower than with fully human-crafted ones. Together, the findings highlight a cautious market stance: AI is entering creative pipelines, but buyers still lean toward human-originated content.