We’ve seen plenty of generative AI tools that can spit out images, from Microsoft Designer to Stable Diffusion, but Nvidia is taking generative AI into a new dimension — literally. The company announced a partnership with Shutterstock at Siggraph 2024 that will allow users to generate 3D models using generative AI. There are handful of AI tools that can generate 3D models, but Shutterstock’s take is definitely the most official tool we’ve seen so far. The models will live in Shutterstock’s TurboSquid library, which currently hosts the company’s library of 3D assets. To generate new assets, Shutterstock says users will be able to provide text and images as prompts. From there, designers can take the assets and edit them in separate apps, with exports available “in a variety of popular file formats,” according to Nvidia. According to Nvidia, designers will be able to see a preview of their generated asset in as little as 10 seconds. From there, designers can choose to turn the preview into a high-quality 3D asset, applying physically-based rendering (PBR) materials in the process. In addition to assets, Nvidia says users will be able to generate 360-degree HDRi backgrounds that can apply lighting characteristics to virtual scenes. As with Nvidia’s partnership with Getty Images, the company says that Shutterstock’s 3D model generator is only trained on licensed “ethically sourced” data, making the assets safe for commercial use. As we’ve seen with other generative AI tools, however, it’s hard to truly know where the dataset comes from. In addition to the Shutterstock partnership, Nvidia said it’s improving the generative AI features available with Getty Images. The company claims the service can create images “twice as fast” now, and with a higher quality. Shutterstock’s 3D feature is launching in beta, and at first, it will only be available for enterprise customers. Shutterstock hasn’t said if it will open up the program to non-commercial users in the future. At Siggraph, the company is showing off how the tool works inside of Blender, where it’s able to generate 3D assets directly into the application window. In addition, HP is showing off physical prototypes of 3D models generated with Shutterstock’s tool. What’s happened? Far from taking their jobs, some people working in the creative sector have found that AI is actually bringing them more work — for now, at least. Graphic designer Lisa Carstens, for example, has new clients asking her to fix their shoddy efforts at using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to create company materials like logos or flyers, NBC News reported. Why is this important? What happened? Oliver McCann, who goes by the artist name imoliver, has signed a deal with a record label. That’s not unusual in and of itself, but what is striking is that all of his music has been created by AI, which he puts to self-penned lyrics. It’s apparently the first deal of its kind and came after one of his tracks hit three millions streams on Spotify, Associated Press reported. McCann’s deal is sure to stoke the controversial debate about the growing role of AI in the music industry. Why is this important? What’s happened? To mark Volcanic Disaster Preparedness Day, Japan has released an AI generated video depicting Mount Fuji erupting to warn citizens of Tokyo that an eruption could occur at any moment. The AI generated video, which can be seen over at BBC Asia, shows the volcano erupting with a plume of smoke emerging before ash spreads 60 miles away over Tokyo. It then shows power outages and food distribution issues as a cause of the eruption.