The future of AI in 3D art and VFX: insights from industry experts

As the new year begins, discussions about the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the business landscape are gaining momentum, particularly in the realm of 3D art and visual effects (VFX). Dade Orgeron, Vice President of Innovation at Shutterstock, anticipates a significant evolution in AI tools by 2025, suggesting they may “disappear into the background” as they become truly beneficial to users. This shift follows what many in the industry describe as a “pivotal moment” in 2024, marked by the transition of generative AI from experimental technologies to practical tools.

In an exploration of the future of AI in 3D art, Creative Bloq spoke to industry experts from Shutterstock, Leica Geosystems, and VFX studio Whiskytree. The consensus among these professionals reflects optimism for 2025, building upon the substantial developments made in 2024.

Orgeron contextualises the progress seen in 2024, noting the rise of new AI capabilities in generating 3D models and textures, with Tencent’s GameGen-O exemplifying this by creating entire environments from simple prompts. He highlights the introduction of Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) that have gained traction for their ability to reconstruct realistic 3D environments from 2D data. Orgeron expressed expectations for 2025, remarking, “Their integration into virtual production and XR applications set a strong foundation for broader adoption in 2025, where I expect the tools that enable radiance fields to become even more accessible and user-friendly next year.”

Brian Meanley from Whiskytree described 2024 as “a transformative year for the VFX industry,” characterised by an increased prevalence of AI conversations and workflows. He stated, “These technologies have introduced notable efficiencies, particularly in areas like asset generation and animation,” suggesting that while the rapid development of these tools presents opportunities, it has also prompted many practitioners to rethink their integration within existing practices to maintain artistic integrity.

Additionally, Andy Fontana, Technical Product Specialist at Leica Geosystems, spoke to the heightened use of LiDAR technology in virtual productions and LED wall setups during 2024. Fontana noted, “Studios are under pressure to find new ways to get the most out of their productions and think outside the box.” He reported that creative workflows developed using LiDAR data have successfully enhanced the accuracy and visual quality of productions.

Looking ahead to 2025, Brian Meanley indicates that AI tools and workflows will continue to be central topics of discussion among VFX professionals. He emphasised the potential of AI to tackle creative and technical challenges while enhancing efficiency without substituting the artistry inherent to VFX. “As these tools evolve, it will be crucial to use AI ethically,” Meanley said.

Dade Orgeron expressed a belief that generative AI tools will evolve into more refined and integrated solutions, stating, “I expect the coming year will bring more refined, reliable, and deeply integrated tools into professional pipelines.” He also predicted an increase in cloud-based platforms designed to facilitate collaboration across teams, enabling real-time co-creation of 3D content and improvements in workflows through AI assistance.

Andy Fontana highlighted the growing demand for digital twins and realistic environmental capture, with pronounced interest in the application of NeRFs and Gaussian splats to create high-quality visuals. Despite current limitations in quality, he pointed to ongoing rapid improvements, underscoring that “the technology is improving extremely fast as more teams develop new processing methods and algorithms.”

As companies prepare for the advancements anticipated in the landscape of AI automation, their insights suggest a transformative future for businesses. The dialogue among these professionals indicates a commitment to harnessing AI responsibly while navigating the balancing act between innovation and artistic tradition. This year promises not only to refine existing tools but also to open new avenues for collaboration and creativity in the field of digital artistry.

Source: Noah Wire Services