Image Courtesy: CGTrader/fajrulfnf

AI-generated content is rapidly filling online marketplaces, but a new set of figures suggests that producing more of it does not necessarily translate into economic value. On CGTrader, an established marketplace for 3D assets used by game developers, filmmakers and 3D printing enthusiasts, AI-generated models now account for roughly one in six uploads while generating only a tiny fraction of revenue.

The disparity is striking. AI-generated models reportedly account for just $1 in every $90 spent on the platform, despite their growing presence. The figures suggest that buyers remain far more willing to pay for assets created by human artists, raising questions about whether the low cost of AI generation is actually translating into commercial value.

CGTrader said buyers are effectively making their preferences clear through their spending. The company noted that the volume of AI uploads might indicate a major shift toward machine-generated content, but revenue tells a very different story.

A customer survey also points to quality concerns. About 20 percent of respondents said they had tried AI-generated assets but found them inadequate. Among buyers looking for 3D-printing models, only 4 percent said AI-generated content “works well,” highlighting the difficulties involved in turning machine-generated designs into usable physical objects.

The results provide a useful counterpoint to the growing flood of AI-generated material across the internet. Generative AI has made it possible to produce images, videos, designs and 3D models at a fraction of the cost and time required by human creators. However, abundance does not necessarily create demand.

CGTrader CEO Dalia Lašait? said AI uploads are currently growing faster than purchases, making the way platforms rank and recommend content increasingly important. She said the company intends to emphasize quality and performance indicators, including commercial performance and buyer ratings, rather than simply rewarding creators for producing large volumes of content.

The data does not prove that AI-generated content has little value everywhere. Quality varies significantly between models and use cases, and AI tools continue to improve. But on a marketplace where buyers have the option to spend money, the numbers suggest that simply being cheaper and easier to produce is not enough.