How to Use AI Feature Attribution
Solves for base ARPU from total ARR and AI cohort uplift, then computes the dollar premium AI users pay vs base — net of annualised AI infra cost.
What It Does
Use the calculator with intent
Solves for base ARPU from total ARR and AI cohort uplift, then computes the dollar premium AI users pay vs base — net of annualised AI infra cost.
AI product owners, finance teams, and operators preparing investor narratives or board updates on AI feature ROI.
Interpreting Results
Net AI attributable ARR > 0 means AI features are paying for themselves, before strategic value. Compare cohort gross margin tiles — if AI cohort < non-AI cohort, infra spend is eating the uplift.
Input Steps
Field by field
- 1
Annualised
Annualised recurring revenue across all paying users.
- 2
Total
Total paying users today (not signups, not active).
- 3
Share
Share of paying users actively using AI features.
- 4
Step 4
% by which AI-cohort ARPU exceeds non-AI cohort. Negative values are valid (cohort downgrades).
- 5
Difference
Difference in monthly churn between AI and non-AI cohorts. Negative = lower churn for AI users.
Common Scenarios
Use realistic starting points
AI add-on (modest)
AI-feature users %
30
ARPU uplift %
25
Net attributable ARR after $96k/yr infra; should still be positive.
AI-native (premium)
AI-feature users %
70
ARPU uplift %
50
Cohort gross margin under heavy infra spend.
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FAQ
Questions people ask next
The short answers readers usually want after the first pass.
Sources & References
- Bessemer State of the Cloud 2024 — Bessemer Venture Partners
- OpenView SaaS Benchmarks 2024 — OpenView Partners
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