What it does
Kaolin is a code library from NVIDIA for 3D deep learning research. It packages tools from NVIDIA's 3D research so others can reuse them with PyTorch, a popular AI toolkit.
It includes physics simulation for 3D objects, rendering methods that AI can learn from, support for Gaussian splats (a way of capturing real scenes in 3D), and tools for converting between 3D formats.
It is optimised to run on NVIDIA graphics cards.
Who it's for
Researchers and developers working on AI for 3D graphics, simulation and scene capture.
Can I use it without coding?
Developers only. It is a Python library for research code. New to this? Start here.
Can I run it?
- Cost
- FreeNothing to pay or sign up for.
- Computer
- Works best on a powerful computer or one with a graphics card (GPU)
- Privacy
- Runs on your own device: your data stays with you
- API key
- Not needed
Try it
Using Claude Code, Cursor or another AI coding assistant? Paste the prompt and it will walk you through the setup.New to this?
Before you install
- Only download from the official GitHub page. Copies with similar names exist for many popular projects.
- License (Apache-2.0): Permissive: free to use, change and share, including for business.
- More on staying safe