Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1524965
his summer, the world's experts in computer graphics converged in Denver, CO, for the 51 st annual SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques) conference. Hosted by ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), the larg- est education and scientific computer society, the event showcased the next generation of advancements within the ever-evolving realm of computer graphics and the multitude of industries it powers and influences. Returning to Colorado for the first time since its inception at the University of Colorado in Boulder half a century ago, the milestone conference united an international community of nearly 9,000 attendees from 76 countries around the world — researchers, scientists, busi- ness professionals, filmmakers, artists, developers, students and journalists — to share resources, catalyze innovation and address challenges within the field. Held from July 28 th to August 1 st at the Colorado Convention Center, the conference featured exhibits, demon- strations and programming highlighting the application of computer graphics in animation, visual effects, design, gaming, research, education and beyond. Nvidia founder/CEO Jensen Huang and Meta founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stage for a rare joint public ap- pearance. In their keynote presentation, the pair of tech luminaries discussed the transformative potential of open source artificial intelligence. Other keynote presenters explored a multitude of new computer graphics applications and concepts ranging from the microscopic to the cosmic. Conference chair Andrés Burbano of the Open University of Catalonia shared, "SIGGRAPH 2024 was a unique experi- ence marked by rich content and vibrant interactions across the arts, science and technology. The thought-provok- ing sessions and dynamic dialogues have truly fostered the idea of a desir- able future of computer graphics and interactive techniques in the industry and the conference itself. Our commit- ment to international participation and engaging industry leaders enhances the discussions and cross-cultural exchange taking place at the conference, ultimately making our industry stronger and more diverse. We are proud to have brought together global perspectives, paving the way for the next 50 years of innovation in the field." The following are notable talking points from SIGGRAPH 2024. Ethical generative AI As artificial intelligence becomes in- creasingly ubiquitous across all facets of everyday life, the concept of ethics has begun to dominate the conversa- tion. With AI models requiring massive amounts of content for training, how will artists be credited and compensated for their contributions? Global creative platform Shutterstock addressed this concern head-on with the launch of the first ethical generative 3D application programming interface (API). Built on the multimodal Nvidia Edify generative AI architecture, this new API is trained exclusively on curated Shutterstock content, including more than half a million ethically-sourced 3D models, and over 650 million images with detailed metadata. Shutterstock is committed to implementing safeguards to ensure ethical compliance, legal integ- rity and brand safety for all users of its generative AI technology. "With our new generative 3D capabil- ities, studios and developers can revolu- tionize their pipelines, leveraging the only generative 3D service entirely trained on licensed data to ensure fair compensation for the original creators who also have the option to opt-out," explained Dade Orgeron, VP of innovation at Shutterstock. "What's truly groundbreaking is that our generative technology transforms a tradi- tionally-lengthy process, that usually takes hours, into one that can be accomplished in minutes, dramatically reducing barri- ers to 3D creation and opening up new possibilities for enterprises across multiple industries." Polygon streaming In today's era of widespread remote work and collaboration, it can be dif- ficult to efficiently describe ideas and share assets between teams. Instead of attempting to describe a new concept, it's often more effective to share a visual representation. HTC Viverse's new standalone polygon streaming service allows teams to inte- grate high-fidelity, interactive 3D models into their workflows across a range of devices, from laptops and PCs to XR headsets. A device-agnostic approach allows easier access to next-generation immersive graphics and interactivity across a diverse variety of platforms. Combining server-side processing with client-side rendering, polygon streaming significantly reduces bandwidth and pro- cessing power requirements. By stream- ing an asset's actual 3D data, it transmits only the necessary polygon data for the sections of a 3D model that a user is viewing at the level of detail correspond- ing to their distance from the object. Joseph Lin, HTC Viverse general man- ager, stated, "It's never been easier to develop 3D assets, but sharing them with others has remained a barrier. Polygon streaming opens up new possibilities for everyone, transforming any device so people can enjoy everything from inter- active product showcases to collabora- tion and immersive virtual environments." Digital material capture When it comes to realistic comput- er-generated imagery, the devil really is in the details. The minutiae of materials and textures are what truly make a digi- tal asset appear realistic when perceived by the human eye. Back in 2019, HP and Adobe joined forc- es to form Project Captis, a venture based on the shared belief that digital materials are foundational to the digital creation ecosystem. Now, they hope to revolution- ize the way materials are digitized with the announcement of a groundbreaking digital material capture solution. The new HP Z Captis system is inte- grated with Adobe Substance 3D1 and powered by an embedded Nvidia Jetson SIGGRAPH 2024: VISIONS OF THE FUTURE BY KENDRA RUCZAK SPOTLIGHTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF COMPUTER GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGY T SPECIAL REPORT www.postmagazine.com 18 POST JULY/AUG 2024 Polygon streaming will help in sharing assets.