Struggle Premium : How Human Effort and Imperfection Drive Perceived Value in the Age of AI

ArXi:2604.15324v1 Announce Type: cross As AI enters creative practice, audiences face growing uncertainty in judging authenticity and value. This study examines the Struggle Premium, the added value attributed to perceived human effort, by analyzing how visible effort cues influence evaluations of human- and AI-generated creative works. We surveyed 70 university students, focusing on process videos, time documentation, written explanations, and imperfections.