Deep dive · module 94 of 100
Cost models and ROI
Estimate whether a AI application is worth the investment.
After this lesson
You can make a simple trade-off between costs and benefits.
In view · Side by side
Costs and benefits on the same scale
Include subscriptions, usage, setup, training, and control time.
Measure time savings, quality improvement, or fewer errors on identical tasks.
Compare costs and benefits over the same period, with visible assumptions.
Part 1 of 3 · All costs
Your preference for less movement is on. Choose each part yourself.
Costs
Subscriptions, tokens, time for setup and control, training.
Benefits
Time savings, fewer errors, better quality, new opportunities.
Measuring honestly
Also include the time for control and post-processing. Not every time saving is a net gain.
New practice example
From explanation to a usable result.
A cost comparison combines recurring work, one-off setup, and actually measured quality.
Fictional practice situationFictitious trial: a team saves 5 minutes per task for 20 tasks per month. Setup takes 120 minutes and the tool costs 15 calculation units per month. An hour is valued at 30 in this exercise.
View a possible solution
This is how it can be done
Monthly, 100 minutes are released, valued at 50 in this calculation trial. Subtract 15 tool costs: 35 per month. The setup has an exercise value of 60. This is a scenario, not a guaranteed saving or current price.
Why this works
Released time does not automatically become a lower invoice. Check usage frequency, remedial work, and assumptions before discussing ROI.
Make it slightly more difficult
Halve the number of monthly tasks and double the remedial work. Which assumption then most strongly determines whether the trial is still worthwhile?
Extra practice, at your own pace. You do not need to submit anything. This does not count towards an automatic assessment.
Your workplace · learning by doing
Make something. See what changes.
Checking the AI connection… You can already view the written example.
Present your assignment to Ende.
Read the answer, change one thing, and compare.
Previously held
New version
You remain in control
What do you want to improve in your next attempt?
On this device only. AI answers remain only in this page memory. This is self-review, not a grade.
Why this approach works
Released time does not automatically become a lower invoice. Check usage frequency, remedial work, and assumptions before discussing ROI.
A step further
Halve the number of monthly tasks and double the remedial work. Which assumption then most strongly determines whether the trial is still worthwhile?
Try & discover · no obligation
Compare time and fictitious costs
Give time a fictitious calculated value. How do fixed tool costs and check time change the comparison?
The calculated value uses your fictitious hourly rate and fixed costs for the same period. Gained working time is not automatically released budget.
The one-off setup is paid back in terms of time from 4 comparable tasks. That does not yet say anything about the quality.
All times are fictitious and measurably adjustable. This is a practice calculation with simplified assumptions. Also compare quality and consequences of errors.
This trial works locally with fictitious data and does not count towards your lesson completion. It starts anew with a new lesson or reload.
A prompt to get you started
Make a simple cost-benefit trade-off for using AI when writing internal reports. Name at least two costs and two benefits.
Apply it
A subscription costs 20 euro. The team saves writing time but spends extra hours on setup and corrections.
Which approach best fits this situation?
- Take only the subscription price as the total cost.
- Compare all costs with the measured benefits over an agreed period.
- Report all gross writing time as net profit.
With JavaScript, you can check your approach and receive immediate feedback.
Test your insight
What should you include in an ROI estimate for AI?
- Both the costs and the time for control and post-processing.
- Only the subscription costs.
- Nothing.
Extra practice
Choose an application and note one cost and one benefit that you would measure.
Cost: time to improve prompts. Benefit: less time per report after the first few weeks.
