Now that version 2026.1 of SketchUp is rolling out, we are getting a clearer picture of where SketchUp's AI implementation is heading. As you likely know, the SketchUp folks had previously released SketchUp Diffusion, a rendering and visualization solution. At the last Basecamp, they then also teased their AI Assistant, which was implemented as a chatbot that could show help topics, write Ruby code, and do various other things that are implemented within an extensible dialog.
As of the latest version, there is now a single toolbar button (yes, it's YAMDB = yet another magic dust button) that brings up the SketchUp AI interface, which now looks like this:
There are two tools listed in there: AI Assistant and AI Render (the new iteration of SketchUp Diffusion). In addition, they introduced a credit system for the various AI tools where users get some credits as part of their subscription plans, but can also buy additional ones, as needed. This floating toolbar now...
Well... at least on this web site it is.
A few days ago, I went through the visual styles of this sketchupfordesign.com website and edited them so that dark mode is now available. You can see an example of this in the image below.
One of my articles, now much easier on the eyes.
As is good practice, I implemented this in a way that lets you - as the site reader - choose what you want to see. It is all based on what you have selected on your device as the preferred view style. I.e. if your operating system is set up to dark mode then you get dark mode. If not, then the site's design hasn't changed at all from before.
Since I am hosting my SketchUp News viewer also on this site, it is now also available in dark mode, both on this site or in the SketchUp extension. See the image below for an example.
The SketchUp News part of...
Although I had recorded some introductory videos about point cloud modeling with Scan Essentials in SketchUp that are included at the end of this playlist, those didn't go into sufficient detail on a bunch of the features. Based on my presentation "From Points to Polygons" at the recent 2024 3D Basecamp, I decided to rectify that shortcoming and produce a set of videos that introduce Trimble's Scan Essentials extension and present various workflows that can be used with this tool. Those videos are included below and in the aforementioned playlist.
As I mention in the videos, you can download a sample point cloud from this site if you want to try this out for yourself.
Let me know in the comments if this is helpful for you and if there are any other topics that you would like covered.
What are Point Clouds?
Point clouds are created using either laser/LIDAR scanners like Trimble's X9 or photogrammetry. If you use a laser scanner, then you...
In case you are in need of an opinionated architectural critique, look no further. You can now employ AI for that! With the recently introduced vision capabilities in OpenAI's services and therefore my OpenAI Explorer SketchUp extension, you can now ask questions about what is in your SketchUp model. But that's not all: For a little bit more bite in that critique, you can even give the AI response a specific personality, e.g. the snarky critic in my video below.
You can do that via the System Message option in its settings. Just add a line like the one shown in the image below and then that instruction will apply to the entire conversation between you and the AI.
As you likely know by now, you can download the OpenAI Explorer SketchUp extension and learn more about how it works here.
Got any other fun and/or useful ways to employ this new tool in SketchUp? Let me know in the comments below.
Video
https://youtu.be/Nv4jzMoY7y4...
I recently refreshed my SketchUp News extension. You can now stay on top of SketchUp News (from blogs, videos, forum discussions, and social media) in three ways:
As before, with the SketchUp extension (download from the Extension Warehouse or here).
On this website on the SketchUp News Viewer page.
As an installed (Progressive) Web App. You can install it on your computer or phone/tablet with the instructions on the bottom of the SketchUp News Viewer page.
This news dashboard updates every hour and features many of the sources that you are all following already - albeit in a convenient format and in a single place.
Video
https://youtu.be/Lwri-QGoRMw...
