Austin, TX – May 20, 2025 — In a recent visual accuracy survey taken by over 100 eCommerce professionals, participants were asked to distinguish between AI-generated CGI images and real studio photography. The result? With an average score of just 49.6 out of 100, the majority couldn’t reliably tell the difference.
The survey, conducted by leading AI and 3D content platform Imagine.io during the Digital Shelf Summit was designed to test visual perception among those responsible for digital merchandising, product content, and creative direction. The overwhelming takeaway: the realism of computer-generated imagery has reached a tipping point that even experts in product imagery could not discern the difference between generations and live studio shots.
With mounting cost pressures from tariffs, limited studio resources, and demand for scalable content personalization, brands are turning to CGI to accelerate content creation. Imagine.io’s platform allows teams to create photorealistic product imagery—lifestyle, silo, dimensions, and AR—from a single 3D model, cutting costs by up to 90% and slashing production timelines from weeks to hours.
The quiz results offer quantifiable proof that today’s CGI assets is no longer a compromise— they are tools that are virtually indistinguishable from traditional methods.
A repository of live studio and CGI generated images were uploaded to the survey platform and respondents were served a randomized assortment of images with the survey selecting at random 5 that were generated and 5 that were real. Images were selected of various products, environments, and angles.
Respondents then swiped left or right indicating whether they believed each of the assets was generated for each of the the 10 items and then submitted their assessment, revealing their score at the end.
If you're interested in taking the survey before viewing the answers, feel free to do so here at quiz.imagine.io
Here is the repository of images for comparison.
About Imagine.io
Imagine.io is a visual content platform that empowers brands to create high-quality product visuals using 3D models, AI, and augmented reality. From eCommerce to print to immersive shopping experiences, Imagine.io helps brands scale their visual content with unmatched speed, creativity, and cost efficiency.