Today’s AI 3D generators can speed up background props and LODs when used by experienced artists, but they’re not reliable for hero assets, complex geometry, characters, environments, or anything with legible text. Our tests suggest roughly 1 in 10 generations are client‑ready without rework. Treat these tools as accelerators, not replacements.
Rodin only produces a cylinder; Meshy generates a poor-quality plant;
Tripo creates a usable output with some cleanup required. (left to right)
Rodin exhibits poor geometry and unclear transitions; Meshy produces warped textures;
Tripo requires cleanup with large gaps & up-close texture (left to right)
Why We Tested This
Clients ask us weekly, “Can today’s AI generate high‑quality 3D assets for production?” With new features and models launching fast, we ran ~ 40 trials across multiple tools and inputs to separate signal from hype.
- Inputs: clean images, messy images, and text prompts
- Asset Types: simple props, complex geometry, characters, environment objects
- Measured: geometry fidelity, topology/holes, editability, texture quality, failure rate, iteration speed
How Current Tools Actually Work in Practice
- Image → Coarse 3D hull: a single 2D image (or an AI‑generated 2D reference) is used to infer a 3D shape. Expect missing back‑sides and wrong assumptions at oblique angles.
- Retopo/ Decimation: the raw hull is usually very heavy (hundreds of thousands to millions of polys). Retopology typically behaves like classic decimation—OK for some organics, rough on hard‑surface & cylindrical forms.
- Texture Synthesis: a 2D model paints textures over the mesh. In our runs, this step often hallucinates and trends cartoonish. Text/logos suffer the usual AI nonsense text problem.
Bottom Line: great for quick looks and rough props; brittle for precision or realism without manual fixes.
What to Use AI 3D For
Good Candidates
- Simple geometry / single, discrete hulls
- Background props and LODs
- Cases where accuracy isn’t critical
Avoid
- Hero Assets (anything seen up close)
- Complex Geometry (ex. plants, folds, wires)
- Text/labels that must be legible
- Characters and environments
Our Test Platform Notes
Tripo:
- Strengths: Best overall workflow and editability. Only platform in our tests that allowed meaningful prompt‑refinement for iterative changes. Geometry captured form and occlusions better than others.
- Weaknesses: Prone to holes/broken geo requiring fixes. Textures lower fidelity (often stylized/cartoonish), but that aesthetic sometimes hides current limitations better than faux‑realism. Occasional generation failures (preferable to unusable junk).
- Verdict: Most flexible; not always the highest fidelity, but the best fit for iterative, pro‑guided pipelines.
Rodin:
- Strengths: Best textures in our tests; meshes tended to be less hole‑prone.
- Weaknesses: Heavier meshes, more frequent shape mistakes, costlier usage, and less modifiable outputs within the tool.
- Verdict: Highest single‑output “quality” on some assets, but workflow friction and inflexibility limit real‑world speed.
Meshy:
- Strengths: Rapid iterations, broad features; active roadmap.
- Weaknesses: Models often unusable due to broken geometry and weak textures; the majority of outputs didn’t pass review.
- Verdict: Will keep watching updates, but our hands‑on results were below production bar.
Our Production Policy & What We Do
- Expert‑Only: Keep these tools in the artist toolbox, not exposed to end users.
- Try‑but‑Verify: Attempt generation once or twice, review, and move on quickly if it’s not working.
- QC “Goalie”: An asset manager (or senior artist) must approve any AI‑generated model before it enters the build. “The AI did it” is never an excuse for broken or inaccurate asset.
- Ownership of Fixes: Expect to patch holes, clean topology, and re‑author textures as needed.
- Where it Shines: Speeding background props and LODs so your team focuses time on what matters—hero content.
Decision Guide (Quick Flow)
Is the asset a hero or close view object?
- Yes: Don’t use AI 3D. Build traditionally.
- No: Proceed.
Is geometry simple (single hull) w/out legible texts/ logos?
- Yes: Verify geometry & textures. If pass, keep; if fail, stop and use traditional methods.
- No: Build traditionally.
Where This is Heading
- Single image 3D features are landing in mainstream tools, expanding access but not yet solving fidelity.
- Model updates promised by vendors (e.g., new major versions) may improve consistency and texture realism.
- Capture‑based approaches (photogrammetry / 3DGS) continue to advance for certain use‑cases; mesh extraction and clean topology remain the hard parts.
FAQ
- Are AI 3D models production‑ready?
- Not consistently. They can help w/ background props/LODs, but we don’t rely on them for hero assets or precision parts.
- Not consistently. They can help w/ background props/LODs, but we don’t rely on them for hero assets or precision parts.
- Which tool is “best?”
- It depends. Tripo had the best workflow/editability; Rodin produced the best textures but with heavier, less editable meshes; Meshy underperformed in our runs. We continually retest as versions change.
- It depends. Tripo had the best workflow/editability; Rodin produced the best textures but with heavier, less editable meshes; Meshy underperformed in our runs. We continually retest as versions change.
- Should we expose AI 3D generation to all users?
- No. Keep it in the pro toolchain with human review. It saves time only when guided by an experienced artist.
- No. Keep it in the pro toolchain with human review. It saves time only when guided by an experienced artist.
Want Help?
We can help you design a safe, fast AI‑assisted asset pipeline – from triaging candidates and setting QC rules to integrating tools with authoring and analytics using HyperSkill.
About HyperSkill
HyperSkill is a no-code 3D simulation platform for both Virtual and Augmented Reality. HyperSkill was created to enable instructional designers to create immersive training content without having to learn programming. HyperSkill includes thousands of 3D assets and simulations that are accessible for free to users. HyperSkill enables non-programmers to author VR/AR content, publish it to various devices and audiences and collect and visualize experience data. HyperSkill has been developed with R&D funding from the National Science Foundation. To learn more, please visit https://siminsights.com/hyperskill/
About SimInsights
SimInsights mission is to democratize the creation of 3D, interactive, immersive and intelligent (I^3) simulations. We believe that simulations are the most impactful way to learn, yet few people can actually leverage them as a creative medium. SimInsights offers HyperSkill, a no-code tool to enable everyone to capture their knowledge in the form of 3D immersive, AI-powered simulations and share it with others. The SimInsights team used HyperSkill to create Skillful, a growing collection of simulations to help anyone master any skill.