The Influence of Effort on the Perceived Value of Generative AI: A Study of the IKEA Effect

Maren F. Mehler, Sara Ellenrieder and Peter Buxmann

Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) from Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL)

Abstract: While the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) aims to automate human tasks, psychology research shows how crucial human effort is for the appreciation of the final results. The so-called “IKEA effect” refers to the increased valuation individuals attribute to self-created products. However, the potential implications of this effect for GenAI have remained unexplored. This study delves into the presence of the IKEA effect in GenAI, specifically focusing on image creation. Through an online experiment involving 174 participants in Germany, we observed that participants valued images higher if more human effort was invested during collaborative co-creation with GenAI. Our findings indicate a significant presence of the IKEA effect, although existing GenAI research primarily focuses on the automation of processes. This discovery emphasizes the importance of understanding user psychology and also offers valuable insights for designing and leveraging GenAI applications.

Date: 2024
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ain and nep-exp
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dar:wpaper:146773

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