Paper Number
1136
Paper Type
Complete Research Paper
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.
Recommended Citation
Mehler, Maren; Ellenrieder, Sara; and Buxmann, Peter, "The Influence of Effort on the Perceived Value of Generative AI: A Study of the IKEA Effect" (2024). ECIS 2024 Proceedings. 6.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2024/track09_coghbis/track09_coghbis/6
The Influence of Effort on the Perceived Value of Generative AI: A Study of the IKEA Effect
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.
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