AI models have invaded the Makerworld Exclusive program

[pumpkin20303]

I’m getting seriously tired of seeing obvious AI-generated models being accepted into the Exclusive Program.

The whole point of exclusivity should be to reward creators who actually spend time modelling, sculpting, testing and preparing files properly—not people uploading barely cleaned-up image-to-3D output full of broken anatomy, melted details and chaotic meshes.

I’ve attached a screenshot from one recent example where the thumb holding a hose is malformed, positioned on the wrong side and facing the wrong direction. It is an anatomically impossible hand-and-object interaction and exactly the sort of failure commonly seen in AI-generated imagery and automated image-to-3D models.

The STL itself contains more than one million triangles, non-manifold geometry, irregular automated topology and floating mesh debris. It looks like generated output that was exported and uploaded with little or no proper cleanup.

This is not an isolated example either. Another model I checked still had tripo_node written directly in the OBJ metadata, clearly identifying that it had come through the Tripo AI-generation pipeline. It had then been passed through a file-conversion service and uploaded.

What makes this even more frustrating is that I regularly report the most obvious AI-generated uploads, yet seemingly nothing happens. Reports disappear into the void while the models remain in the Exclusive Program earning rewards alongside work made by genuine creators.

To be clear, I have no issue with people publishing AI-generated models outside the Exclusive Program, provided they are honest about how they were made and follow the platform’s rules. The problem is uploading generated content into the Exclusive Program and presenting it as original creator-made work.

If you are doing that, expect your uploads to be examined, documented and reported. I will continue calling it out every time I find clear evidence.

Meanwhile, real creators are spending days or weeks designing, sculpting, test-printing, correcting tolerances and documenting their work. Allowing undeclared AI models into the Exclusive Program devalues the program, the rewards and everyone who genuinely earned their place in it.

MakerWorld needs to start enforcing its rules properly before the Exclusive Program turns into an AI content farm.

[Josh-3D]

[MZip]

@pumpkin20303

MakerWorld needs to start enforcing its rules properly before the Exclusive Program turns into an AI content farm.

Once people get the flow figured out (probably a few for now but soon to be an avalanche) they will be able to script the creation of lots of fun models and flood the repository.

MW needs to get out the ban hammer and start using it.

[Bullocks]

It already is overwhelmed, and the popular ones are mostly of bootleg trademarked IP, this example included [Colombia Pictures Industries]

And honestly if I were them, in this moment in time, I wouldn’t respect american laws either LOL but they would be wise to at least still need to comply with Nintendo/Japan

[ImU]

its unreal…

and by the way the hand/wrist section is also way too big..!

but is it now real or not??

[GeorgeTDS]

I do wish Bambu could see the future here, that once the trust for quality models is broken they aren’t getting those users back. If the assumption was that people buy printers and then use MakerWorld (or whatever order it comes in) then it should stand to reason that if they don’t use MakerWorld they don’t need to buy printers.

[RetroSharky]

@pumpkin20303

MakerWorld needs to start enforcing its rules properly before the Exclusive Program turns into an AI content farm.

I think your post is great, but it’s not going to happen - so many people have already started threads on this topic and reached out to Bambu. Here’s an example of some of the threads I’ve started - It wasn’t specifically about the Exclusive program, but Bambu ignores any topic that addresses issues with AI.

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Dare To Be Human - "SoulCrafted" movement

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I could post topics from others right now - there are hundreds of them, dating back years - but I think my point is clear: Bambu doesn’t care about that; on the contrary, they want more AI.

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@pumpkin20303

MakerWorld needs to start enforcing its rules properly before the Exclusive Program turns into an AI content farm.

Do you want to hear the harsh truth? It’s too late - at least a year. Users here on the forum have voiced their concern, but the casual printer crowd is just celebrating AI.

However, since they’re currently the ones bringing in the most money - without attaching a negative connotation to the term ‘casual’ - they’re the ones influence where things are leading. AI models are very well received by casual public. For example, in the context of the Bambu Mobile app.

I don’t blame them - after all, at the end of the day, it’s Bambu’s decision.

[Mason49]

Sadly, retrosharky’s right here. If Bambu wanted to get rid of the AI, they could’ve gotten that handled long ago, but that just hasn’t happened, so what can we do other than dislike and report it in makerworld, right? It’s just the world we live in now.

[RetroSharky]

In the following comment, I’ll be mixing up “you” and “we” like crazy; I’m not referring to any specific person, but rather speaking in general.

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@Mason49

so what can we do other than dislike and report it in makerworld

There are possibilities that may seem small but have a big impact because they motivate people who are truly passionate about what they do:

• Give small creators a boost to keep them motivated; they appreciate every single one.
• Photos, positive reviews, sharing links - all are ways to draw attention to unique projects.
• Use the “Follow” and “Ignore” features on MakerWorld
• Create small projects yourself that solve everyday problems or pursue niche hobbies that AI doesn’t cover. Because let’s be honest: AI is almost exclusively for decorative purposes.
• Money - as obvious as it may sound - you can donate a dollar to your favorite designer every now and then.
• Encourage MakerWorld contest organisers who aren’t affiliated with BambuLab to be mindful of who they choose as the winner. This has already sparked heated discussions on the forum and raised awareness. Please note: discussion, not harassment.

That might not be enough to abolish AI, and it’s hard to compete with AI, but it’s the little things that motivate young talent and newcomers in particular and make all the difference. If they get a boost that’s honest, it can be the turning point between quitting and staying.

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That said, I have to contradict myself: You also need to have confidence in yourself - we can compete with AI. AI is almost exclusively used for decorative purposes, and when it comes to anything mechanical, it almost always fails.

Eventually, people will get tired of all the decorative gimmicks and start looking for real innovations again.

[alph1one]

Wow, its unreal. By the way the hand/wrist section is also way too big..!

[ExpectDeer]

@RetroSharky

Create small projects yourself that solve everyday problems or pursue niche hobbies that AI doesn’t cover.

@RetroSharky

That said, I have to contradict myself: You also need to have confidence in yourself - we can compete with AI. AI is almost exclusively used for decorative purposes, and when it comes to anything mechanical, it almost always fails.

While I didn’t set out to be a kit card designer, I started leaning into it because I realized that it’s the one skill I have that AI can’t do. And because of the niche nature of kit cards it’s highly unlikely that someone will spend the time training it. It’s not like hoards of people are kicking down the door of kit card designers (or at least not this particular designer ). There’s no easy big money in a niche category.

[user_3930049166]

AI and those data centers are going to ruin this country. It’s been the subject of science ficton for years and nobody’s paying attention.

I don‘t DL nothing from Maker World exccept those marked designer so I know it from ‘you’.