I use Daz3D and Blender mostly for hobby art and character scenes, and it's true that the growth in AI image generators is huge right now. What I notice is that some folks just want the fastest, prettiest results, so they're more than happy with AI tools. For me, though, there's a lot of satisfaction in actually building something from scratch, posing models, tweaking the materials, and experimenting with lighting until it looks right, there's a personal investment in every project that no AI output can replace.

Still, I think both workflows will find a place. Some people combine the two, using 3D renders as a base for AI upscaling or stylization, which can be pretty cool. I like to try new tech but I always come back to the hands-on creative part. I like seeing how new tools can help without taking away that sense of authorship. Speaking of evolving tech, I recently read about this device called the orb that's supposed to be about helping verify your unique identity, seems like things keep moving toward tech that makes our online selves more secure and personal too.