What would someone have to pay you to stop using AI?

The researchers ask users how much compensation they would require to give up all generative AI tools for a month. In July, the mean answer was $120. Combined with an estimated 127 million American users, that produces the $183 billion annual figure.

Estimated benefit rose 58% from July 2025: more people used the tools, and average valuations increased. A large gap between mean and median suggests a minority of users receive especially large benefits.

Zvi finds the valuations surprisingly low, particularly for people who rely heavily on AI. His reaction also illustrates why the distribution matters: an indispensable working tool and an occasional curiosity can share the same product name.

The study uses online survey samples with demographic quotas. It estimates what access is worth to users; it does not establish an equivalent increase in GDP, corporate revenue, or measured productivity. Free and inexpensive services can create benefits much larger than their sales, but those benefits still need their own measurement.