AllYouCanTech

Unity Halts Disputed Per-Install Runtime Charge

# Unity Discontinues Controversial Runtime Fee: A Year of Grievances and New Pricing Adjustments

Unity Technologies, the creator of one of the leading cross-platform game development engines, has formally withdrawn its contentious **Runtime Fee**. This fee, which would have billed developers based on game installs instead of the conventional per-seat licensing system, encountered significant backlash from the development community. The cancellation of the fee occurs precisely one year after its initial declaration, highlighting a major alteration in Unity’s strategy regarding pricing and relations with developers.

## The Runtime Fee Dispute

In **September 2023**, Unity revealed a new pricing model that incorporated a **Runtime Fee** linked to game installs. This fee was set to impact games that exceeded specific revenue and install thresholds, with developers utilizing the free **Personal** tier being charged **20 cents per install** once their game accrued **$200,000 in revenue** and surpassed **200,000 installs**. For **Pro** and **Enterprise** users, the fee would be marginally reduced, applying after **$1 million in revenue** and **1 million installs**.

Although Unity characterized the Runtime Fee as a necessary move to sustain investments in the platform, developers perceived it as an inequitable and unpredictable expense, particularly harmful to thriving indie games. The fee structure threatened to disproportionately affect smaller developers who achieved success, potentially diminishing their profits or compelling them to transfer costs to consumers.

The reaction was immediate and intense. Developers voiced their anger on social media and gaming platforms, with many contemplating migrating to alternative game engines such as **Unreal Engine** or **Godot**. Some even weighed the option of ceasing updates to their games to escape retroactive fees, as Unity initially proposed to include installs counted before **January 2024** in the fee assessments.

## Unity’s Reaction and the Road to Abandonment

In light of the extensive criticism, Unity attempted to adjust the Runtime Fee to mitigate its repercussions. The firm eliminated retroactive install counting and capped fees at **2.5% of revenue**. Nevertheless, these modifications failed to assuage developers’ grievances, as many felt Unity had broken their trust.

The uproar also brought to light concerns regarding Unity’s **terms of service**, which seemed to enable the company to implement sudden and substantial changes to its pricing model without advance notice. This raised further worries about the reliability and predictability of Unity as a sustainable development platform.

In **October 2023**, Unity’s then-CEO **John Riccitiello** announced his resignation, which many within the game development community welcomed with relief. Riccitiello was viewed as a divisive figure, with some developers attributing Unity’s tarnishing reputation to his aggressive monetization tactics. His exit, although celebrated by some, did not completely restore confidence in the company.

By **January 2024**, Unity was confronting further obstacles, including a **significant wave of layoffs** that eliminated **25% of its workforce**. These job cuts were partially linked to financial challenges stemming from a series of acquisitions made during Riccitiello’s leadership. Unity’s financial reports suggested that the Runtime Fee would have negligible implications in 2024 but was projected to “increase from there as customers embrace our new releases.”

However, in a surprising development, Unity declared in **September 2024** that it would completely **eliminate the Runtime Fee**. In a blog post credited to Unity’s new President and CEO, **Matt Bromberg**, the firm acknowledged that the fee had been an error. Bromberg underlined the significance of fostering a “partnership built on trust” with developers and conceded that although price hikes were necessary, they ought not to take the form of “a novel and contentious new strategy.”

## Revised Pricing Structure

With the Runtime Fee now abolished, Unity has rolled out a new pricing framework designed to be more transparent and consistent for developers. The updated structure features the following revisions:

– **Unity Personal**: The free tier remains intact, but the revenue/funding cap has been elevated from **$100,000 to $200,000**. This adjustment permits more small developers to continue utilizing Unity without incurring extra expenses.

– **Unity Pro**: For developers who surpass the limits of the Personal tier, Unity Pro will experience an **8% price increase**, raising the cost to **$2,200 per seat**. This tier is tailored for mid-sized developers requiring more advanced tools and assistance.

– **Unity Enterprise**: For major studios and organizations with over **$25 million in revenue or funding**, Unity Enterprise will see a **25% price increase**. This tier encompasses customized packages and supplementary support tailored to the needs of high-revenue developers.

Bromberg also mentioned that Unity intends to return to a more conventional pricing model, with potential price adjustments contemplated only on an **annual basis**. Furthermore,

AI Chatbots Might Outperform Humans in Convincing Conspiracy Theorists

### AI Chatbots: A Fresh Perspective in Disproving Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy theories have historically been a persistent and concerning issue, especially in the United States. Some estimates indicate that nearly **50% of the population** subscribes to at least one conspiracy theory, from the well-known “JFK assassination” to more current allegations like “2020 election fraud” or “COVID-19 deception.” The task of refuting these beliefs has proven to be incredibly challenging. When faced with facts and evidence, numerous conspiracy theorists often double down on their convictions—a phenomenon attributed to **motivated reasoning**, a cognitive bias that compels individuals to interpret information in a manner that reinforces their existing beliefs.

Nevertheless, a recent study published in *Science* presents a beacon of hope. Researchers discovered that **AI chatbots**—particularly those utilizing advanced language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4 Turbo—can substantially diminish the intensity of conspiracy beliefs through engaging personalized, fact-driven conversations. The study’s outcomes contest the common belief that conspiracy theorists are immune to evidence, demonstrating that customized, evidence-based counterarguments can have a meaningful effect.

—

### The Impact of Customized Counterarguments

A primary takeaway from the study is that conspiracy theories are highly **diverse**—they differ notably from individual to individual. Even within a single conspiracy theory, varying individuals might depend on distinct pieces of “evidence” to validate their beliefs. This renders sweeping, one-size-fits-all debunking strategies typically ineffective.

As **Thomas Costello**, a psychologist at American University and co-author of the study, states, “Individuals hold a broad spectrum of conspiracy theories, and the specific evidence each person uses to back even a single conspiracy might vary from one individual to another.” Hence, a more successful strategy would involve **customizing debunking efforts** to address the particular iteration of the conspiracy that each person subscribes to.

Here is where AI chatbots prove valuable. Unlike human debunkers, who may find it challenging to keep pace with the vast array of conspiracy theories and the specific evidence presented by believers, an AI chatbot can leverage extensive information to **tailor its responses**. The chatbot can engage in a dialogue with a conspiracy theorist, acknowledge their specific assertions, and then provide **carefully tailored counterarguments** based on factual evidence.

—

### The Research: How AI Chatbots Mitigated Conspiracy Beliefs

To evaluate their hypothesis, the research team executed a series of experiments involving **2,190 participants** who believed in one or more conspiracy theories. The participants conversed personally with an AI chatbot (GPT-4 Turbo), during which they disclosed their beliefs and the evidence they believed substantiated those ideas. The chatbot responded with **fact-checked, evidence-based counterarguments** customized to each participant’s specific claims.

For instance, if an individual believed that “9/11 was an inside job” because “jet fuel can’t melt steel beams,” the chatbot might respond with information from the **NIST report**, which clarifies that steel weakens at much lower temperatures, making the towers’ collapse feasible without the need for controlled demolition. A different individual who believed in the same theory but referenced other evidence—like the manner in which the towers fell—would receive an alternate, similarly customized response.

The outcomes were remarkable. After just one **eight-minute interaction** with the chatbot, participants exhibited a **20% reduction** in their belief in conspiracy theories. Even more impressively, this decline remained intact when participants were reassessed **two months later**.

—

### Wider Implications and Secondary Effects

The chatbot’s success was not confined to disproving specific conspiracy theories. Researchers discovered that the intervention also yielded **spillover effects**, diminishing participants’ overall propensity to endorse conspiracy theories. It even heightened their willingness to **block or ignore** social media accounts disseminating conspiratorial content.

As **David Rand**, a cognitive scientist at MIT and co-author of the study, commented, “The chatbot managed to meet people exactly where they are instead of just providing sweeping debunks.” This personalized method appeared to stimulate participants to engage in **critical thinking** and reevaluate their beliefs.

Interestingly, the chatbot’s effectiveness was chiefly attributed to its dependence on **facts and evidence**. In subsequent experiments, researchers explored different methodologies, such as having the chatbot establish rapport with participants or abstaining from using factual data altogether. These approaches proved significantly less effective, affirming that it was the **factual counterarguments** that truly made an impact.

—

### Challenges and Constraints

While the findings of the study are encouraging, challenges still need to be addressed. For example, the chatbot was less effective in contesting conspiracy theories related to **recent events**, like the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. In these instances, the chatbot’s effectiveness diminished to a **6-7% reduction** in belief,

Unicode 16.0 Update Unveils Fresh Emojis, Raising Overall Character Total to 154,998

# Unicode 16.0: Exciting New Emoji, Scripts, and Their Path to Your Devices

The Unicode Consortium has officially unveiled **Unicode 16.0**, the most recent iteration of the universal character set that facilitates communication across digital platforms. This upgrade brings **5,185 new characters**, boosting the total character count in the Unicode standard to an impressive **154,998**. Among these fresh offerings are **eight new emoji** along with various modern and ancient scripts, affirming Unicode’s commitment to adapting alongside the myriad of languages and cultures worldwide.

## Fresh Emoji in Unicode 16.0

Although Unicode 16.0 encompasses thousands of new characters, the **eight new emoji** are set to garner notable interest. These emoji aim to represent a wide spectrum of human experiences, items, and symbols, including:

– **Shovel**
– **Fingerprint**
– **Leafless tree**
– **Radish** (officially categorized as “root vegetable”)
– **Harp**
– **Purple splat** (evoking the ’90s **Nickelodeon** logo)
– **Flag of Sark** (a tiny isle in the English Channel)
– **Face with bags under eyes** – a prominent emoji that seems to truly capture the fatigue and stress characteristic of contemporary life.

As is tradition, **Emojipedia** has provided **sample images** of these new emoji, showcasing how they may appear once adopted by various platforms such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. However, final designs may show slight variations depending on each platform’s distinctive style.

### A Closer Examination of the “Face with Bags Under Eyes” Emoji

Among the novel emoji, the **”face with bags under eyes”** is already stirring considerable excitement. Its drained, tired expression has been interpreted as a mirror of our current times, where stress, exhaustion, and sleepless nights have become prevalent. Whether utilized to convey fatigue from work, parenting, or just life itself, this emoji is anticipated to become a widely-used addition to the digital vernacular.

## Newly Introduced Scripts in Unicode 16.0

Alongside emoji, Unicode 16.0 expands support for **seven new scripts**, essential for fostering and sustaining lesser-known languages and writing systems. These include:

– **Garay alphabet** from West Africa
– **Gurung Khema**, **Kirat Rai**, **Ol Onal**, and **Sunuwar** scripts from Northeast India and Nepal
– **Todhri alphabet** from Albania
– **Tulu-Tigalari script** from Southwestern India

These scripts mark a significant advancement in ensuring a broader array of languages and cultures can be accurately depicted in digital communication. By incorporating these scripts, Unicode continues to pursue its goal of inclusivity, allowing individuals from varied linguistic backgrounds to utilize their native writing systems on contemporary devices.

## The Progression of Emoji: From Unicode 15.1 to 16.0

The previous major emoji update was **Unicode 15.1** in 2023, which brought several new emoji, many of which were adaptations of existing characters. For instance, the **lime emoji** was developed by combining the lemon emoji with a green color modifier, and the **phoenix emoji** resulted from merging a bird with a fire emoji. These combinations were enabled by a **zero-width joiner (ZWJ)**, a unique character permitting multiple emoji to be showcased as a single, cohesive image.

In contrast, most emoji in Unicode 16.0 are **distinct characters** rather than blends of pre-existing ones. The only exception is the **Sark flag emoji**, which, akin to other flag emoji, is formed by placing two **regional indicator letters** adjacent to each other, without necessitating a ZWJ character.

## The Path from Unicode to Your Devices

Although the Unicode Consortium has ratified Unicode 16.0, the new characters won’t show up on your devices right away. The journey to make these characters a reality entails several stages:

1. **Design**: Companies such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung must create their versions of the new emoji and characters, ensuring they align with their existing design style.
2. **Software Updates**: Once designs are finalized, these companies must distribute software updates that feature the new characters.
3. **User Adoption**: Ultimately, users must download and install these updates to access the new emoji and characters.

This sequence can span several months, meaning that although Unicode 16.0 is now official, it might take a while before you notice the new emoji and scripts on your device.

## The “Greenwashing Emoji” Myth

Following the release of Unicode 16.0, a peculiar hoax has circulated online. Some users have asserted that the update includes a **”greenwashing emoji”** conceived by **Shepard Fairey**, the artist behind the