Artificial intelligence is now embedded across much of the digital economy, encouraged by some of the world’s largest technology companies. Yet the long-term audience for AI-made media has yet to be established. Data from the 3D asset market offers a useful measure of that uncertainty: AI listings are increasing rapidly, but customer demand has barely followed.
CGTrader is a long-running marketplace where creators sell 3D models for games, animation, 3D printing and commercial projects. In its latest annual trends report, the company found that AI generated roughly one in six newly listed items. However, those products accounted for only one percent of sales. The marketplace may be filling with new sellers, but very few customers are purchasing their work. CGTrader recently published its annual report with the broader figures.
As highlighted by 404 Media’s Emanuel Maiberg, the results point to a significant gap between the supply of AI-made assets and what buyers actually want. That distinction matters for anyone creating digital artwork, game content or assets for a physical DIY arcade kit.
“Our goal isn’t to increase the volume of AI-made assets on the marketplace,” CGTrader CEO Dalia Lašaitė told Maiberg. She said the company wants to give designers better tools, allowing them to work faster and devote more time to creative tasks. In her view, buyers will select assets based on how well they satisfy their needs, rather than simply whether a person or an AI system produced them.
The survey results suggest that quality remains the decisive issue. Buyers identified poor quality as the main reason for avoiding AI-generated products. Only five percent said they were satisfied with their AI purchases, while just four percent of all users believed AI “works well”. For customers commissioning or buying assets for a cabinet design or arcade project, a quick generation process does not necessarily deliver a finished, usable result.
CGTrader’s AI strategy faces a difficult test
The findings also create an awkward contrast with CGTrader’s business plans. In March of the previous year, the marketplace reached an agreement with Tencent to streamline its AI initiatives and improve user-created models. That partnership could make the platform an increasingly prominent showcase for AI tools, but the sales figures indicate that many of the resulting models are attracting attention without attracting buyers.
CGTrader is not alone in this position. Major digital platforms continue to invest heavily in artificial intelligence while also trying to remove or limit unwanted AI-generated material from their services. The marketplace data suggests that expanding production is not the same as building a profitable audience. Until the technology consistently produces work that customers consider worthwhile, the commercial case for flooding platforms with AI assets remains uncertain.
For creators and arcade builders, the lesson is straightforward: speed can help with experimentation, but quality, suitability and originality still determine whether a digital asset earns its place in a finished project. The same principle applies when selecting arcade parts or planning a complete machine.
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