These three very different structural elements were designed to carry the same load

Dinotopia artist Jim Gurney says: "Computer modeling tools such as ZBrush and Maya have made it easier to visualize whatever form that a human designer imagines.|And 3D printing has made it possible to translate that design into physical form."

The generative process yields dozens or even hundreds of options, and the human can select which one to produce.

This new enterprise is variously called "deep-learning generative design," "intuitive AI design," and "algorithmic design." New plugins for Maya have already made such technology available.

The designs generated by this process look like something out of Art Nouveau.

They look biological, resembling skeletal architecture, with curving shapes. As with biological forms there are no straight lines and no right angles. There's no consideration of style. They're not made to look beautiful but rather to be efficient. Generative designs are vastly lighter and stronger than human designs.

The forms are often surprisingly complex, apparently more intricate than they need to be. They're not necessarily easy to produce without a 3D printer.