Siemens has introduced the Eigen Engineering Agent, an AI system designed to plan and validate automation engineering tasks in operational environments. The system uses multi-step reasoning and self-correction to carry out tasks autonomously and operates directly inside engineering platforms, letting it to complete workflows from initial design through to validation. Autonomous engineering workflows The agent […] The post Siemens introduces AI system for automation engineering appeared first on AI News.

In the past, even with an icebreaker and during peak melt season, getting to the North Pole wasn’t a sure bet. It took favorable winds to crack the frozen ocean surface, and ships had to fight through ice that had grown many meters thick over several winters. In the summer of 2025, though, Jochen Knies…

Rolfe Winkler / Wall Street Journal: A profile of John Ternus, a mechanical engineer by background, who joined Apple in 2001 and whose biggest success was helping Mac's transition to Apple Silicon  —  John Ternus must help Apple catch up in the AI race as it looks for its next big hit  —  The Mac Mini was sorely in need of an update …

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg: Longtime colleagues say John Ternus will bring back Jobs-era decisiveness, shifting from Cook's era when decisions were made collectively by top executives  —  When Apple Inc. announced Monday that longtime leader Tim Cook would be replaced by John Ternus, it published an image …

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Politico: A look at EU efforts to cut reliance on US tech; study: Amazon, Microsoft, and Google hold ~70% of EU cloud and US vendors get 80% of enterprise software spend  —  Thanks to Trump, EU governments are trying to break their overreliance on U.S. technology.  It won't be cheap or easy.

A California judge accused Amazon of price-fixing. Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images A California judge accused Amazon of price-fixing and contributing to the affordability crisis in the US. Attorney General Rob Bonta said Amazon asked vendors like Levi's to pressure Walmart into raising prices. The case will go into trial in January 2027. A California prosecutor is accusing Amazon of illegally raising prices for Americans. In a press release on Monday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said that Amazon is price fixing and colluding with vendors and retailers to raise costs for Americans beyond what the market requires. "Amid a crisis of affordability, Amazon is illegally working to rake in profits by making sure consumers have nowhere else to turn to for lower prices," Bonta said. "We'll see them in court." In the press release, he said he had publicly released evidence of Amazon's price-fixing, linking to a 19-page memo. Among many other examples in the memo, Bonta wrote that Amazon asked the apparel brand Levi's to pressure Walmart into raising the price of a pair of its khaki pants from about $25 to $29 to match Amazon's listing price. Other companies mentioned in the filing include Home Depot, Target, Best Buy, clothing brand Hanes, and pet product brand Chewy. Bonta asked the court to take action against Amazon for price fixing while the case proceeds and to require Amazon to stop "coercing its vendors to serve as the go-between with its competitors." The case will go to trial in January 2027. In response to a request for comment, an Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider that the motion is a "transparent attempt to distract from the weakness of its case." The spokesperson added that Bonta filed the motion more than three years after filing his original complaint. In 2022, Bonta said in the lawsuit that Amazon coerced sellers into signing agreements stating they would not sell their goods at a lower price to other retailers. "Amazon is consistently identified as America's lowest-priced online retailer, and we're proud of the low prices customers find when shopping in our store," the Amazon spokesperson said. Meanwhile, spokespersons for Levi's and Walmart declined to comment, both saying they were not parties to the litigation. Amazon's stock price is up about 43% in the past year. Read the original article on Business Insider

The European Commission is set to designate ChatGPT as a ‘Very Large Online Search Engine,’ subjecting OpenAI to strict Digital Services Act compliance rules. The post European Commission Moving to Classify ChatGPT as ‘Very Large Online Search Engine’ Under Digital Services Act appeared first on TechRepublic.

Anne Hathaway says turning 40 helped her focus on having fun. Mike Coppola/Getty Images for 20th Century Studios Anne Hathaway says turning 40 made her less hard on herself. She said that when she was younger, "every high was so high, every low was so low." These days, Hathaway says she no longer gets "so swept up in things anymore." Anne Hathaway says turning 40 helped her loosen up and enjoy herself more. "When I started out, I thought I'd be a better artist if I was really hard on myself," Hathaway, 43, told People in an interview published on Monday. "And then turning 40, I just kind of found a different gear, and I was no longer interested in living an awkward life. I was just interested in getting to the fun part." Hitting that milestone has also made her think more carefully about the choices she makes. "You have to be more serious about how you take care of yourself. I just think that when you're in your 40s, you've had the opportunity to see how certain decisions bore fruit over time. And so you can assess if you want to continue making those decisions or if you want to make new ones," she said. Hathaway said one of the things she appreciates most about being in her 40s is that she no longer gets "so swept up in things anymore." "I used to really not understand that phrase, 'Take it with a grain of salt.' There's no salt. Every high was so high, every low was so low. And now I really value the chill," she said. These days, Hathaway is embracing the uncertainty that comes with getting older. "I've never been this age. So let's just like, you know, figure it out. You still never know what's coming around the corner," she said. But there's already plenty ahead for her to look forward to. The actor has five films scheduled for release this year, including "The Devil Wears Prada 2." Hathaway is not alone. Many celebrities have said turning 40 shifted how they see and approach their lives. In December, "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco says turning 40 made her more empathetic and less judgmental. It's very cheesy and corny, but it's true — you don't know until you've lived it. You see things differently, and you understand people in a way you can't when you're 20 or 30," Cuoco said. In March, Chelsea Handler said she moved away from conventional dating expectations in her 40s, choosing to date younger men after years of dating older partners. "Like, I've got to flip it and reverse it, you know? So, now I'm heading in the opposite direction because I'm too hot to be dating a 65-year-old. Let's be honest," Handler said. Turning 40 is a milestone that can prompt reflection and anxiety. It ushers in midlife — a period during which research suggests life satisfaction dips. Hannes Schwandt, an associate professor of human development and social policy at Northwestern University, told Business Insider in 2024 that this midlife dip is often tied to unmet expectations that feel especially disappointing at the time, although they tend to matter less later in life. Still, not everyone views this period as a low point. Several women who switched careers in their 40s told Business Insider that they saw it as a chance to rebrand. Executive coach Monique Shields said it's because many people reach a stage where "achievement is no longer the goal." "You've done all the striving," she said, "and now, the questions become more about well-being and legacy." Read the original article on Business Insider

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John Gruber / Daring Fireball: Tim Cook reshaped Apple in his own image and exits as CEO on his own terms, seemingly picking the right successor in John Ternus, much like Jobs did with Cook  —  It's a profoundly different feeling today than the last time Apple's CEO announced his transition to chairman of the board …

Apple's new CEO pick is a bet on going back to its roots. Bloomberg/Getty Images John Ternus as Apple's new CEO marks a shift back to a hardware focus. Apple has not entered the race to build the best AI model and has outsourced it instead. Analysts say investors may have mixed views on the CEO change. Apple is going back to what it does best with its new CEO pick. On Monday, the iPhone maker announced that Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO on September 1. John Ternus, Apple's senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take the helm. Ternus joined the company in 2001 and most recently oversaw Apple's new product lines, including the iPad and AirPods, as well as new models of the iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. He also oversaw hardware engineering work on products across all categories. Analysts say giving the top job to a hardware VP rather than the software head is part of Apple's strategy to dominate the devices space in the AI era. "That means that a lot of the path ahead has to do with hardware innovation. So glasses, pins, folding phones. At some point, a less expensive virtual reality device than Vision Pro," Gil Luria, a tech analyst at D.A. Davidson, said in an interview with CNBC on Monday. "We haven't had a lot of innovation around hardware up until now, but that is Apple's lane." Hardware made up about 80% of Apple's $143.8 billion in revenue in the quarter ending December 31. The other 20% came from advertising, the App Store, and cloud sales — a major focus and growth area during Cook's tenure. Luria said he sees the move as "good news" for the company and that this strategy should be a "relief" to investors. "They spend a lot on R&D and CapEx by their standards, but it's obviously a rounding error compared to what Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta are spending chasing the top model," Luria said, referring to research and development and capital expenditure on AI models. Instead of investing in its own model, Apple has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its devices for "Apple Intelligence" features. The D.A. Davidson analyst added, "Eventually, there'll only be two or three leading models, and they'll all have to work through Apple devices because most consumers, especially ones willing to spend on subscriptions, are using an Apple device." But Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, is not so sure if investors will see this succession as all positive. The perennial tech bull wrote in a note on Monday: "Cook leaves a lasting legacy in Cupertino, and there will be a lot of pressure on Ternus to produce success out of the gates, especially on the AI front." Patrick Moorhead, the CEO of tech research firm Moor Insights & Strategy, told CNBC that Ternus is not a "risk-taking visionary." "What I'm expecting and what the streets should expect is tight operational execution, margin management, and incremental product iteration," Moorhead said. Read the original article on Business Insider

Wall Street Journal: A look at transnational scam syndicates in Cambodia, running hundreds of online scam operations and call centers and infiltrating Cambodia's ruling class  —  Crime syndicates in Cambodia corrupt officials, enslave workers and fleece victims worldwide  —  PHNOM PENH, Cambodia …

OpenClaw took China by storm recently as the phrase "raising the lobster" trended on Chinese social media. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images Across China, a new kind of digital worker is clocking in. They're called "lobsters," shorthand for OpenClaw-powered agents that can browse, click, reply, trade, post, and sometimes spiral out of control. What began as a niche tool for engineers went mainstream earlier this year. OpenClaw is drawing crowds to installation events, spawning side hustles, and turning everyday users into accidental CEOs of AI employees. People are lining up to install a version of OpenClaw at the Global Developer Pioneers Summit (GDPS) in Shanghai, China. Jade GAO / AFP via Getty Images People charge as much as 299 yuan, or about $44, to help others set up a "lobster." Others are putting their agents to work in the stock market, hoping to strike it rich. An OpenClaw booth at the Global Developers Pioneer Summit in Shanghai, China. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images Around it, a full ecosystem is forming. "Lobster" communities, meet-ups, and install events are popping up across the country. Local governments are leaning in too: Districts in Shenzhen and Wuxi have rolled out incentives including free housing, rent-free offices, and subsidies of up to $720,000 to attract developers building on OpenClaw. But the boom comes with risks. Security researchers warn that poorly configured agents can expose sensitive data. Users share stories of runaway lobsters taking actions they didn't expect. Chinese companies are also racing to make deployment easier while keeping control in check. What's unfolding in China is a glimpse of what happens when powerful AI tools escape the lab and land in the hands of millions — fast, messy, and full of possibility. Read our coverage of OpenClaw in China Read the original article on Business Insider

Tim Cook is stepping down as CEO at Apple. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images Tim Cook has been Apple's CEO since 2011. Apple's stock increased by over 2,000% under Cook, making it the first trillion-dollar company. Here's what smart people are saying about Cook's legacy at Apple. As Apple prepares to lose its CEO, people in the business and tech world are thinking about what Tim Cook is leaving behind. Apple announced Monday that Cook would step down in September and that John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, would take his place. Cook became CEO os Apple in 2011, sparking plenty of questions and genuine doubts about whether the supply chain and operations specialist could fill the very big shoes left behind by founder Steve Jobs. In Cook's nearly 15 years as CEO, Apple grew into the world's first trillion-dollar company and saw its stock price rise by over 2,000%. Here's what smart people are saying about Cook's legacy at Apple. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman in a tux Taylor Hill/FilmMagic Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, wrote his farewell to Cook in a Monday post on X. "Tim Cook is a legend," Altman said. "I am very thankful for everything he has done and I am very thankful for Apple." Ben Bajarin, CEO at Creative Strategies Ben Bajarin, CEO at consumer tech research firm Creative Strategies, said Cook will get a lot of credit for helping Apple scale, but that "an equally important part of his legacy is cultural." "His job was not only to grow Apple after Steve Jobs," he wrote on X. "It was to preserve as much of Apple's core identity, values, and operating culture as possible while leading it through a vastly different era." Patrick Moorhead, CEO of Moor Insights & Strategy Moorhead said Ternus is a continuity candidate. Errich Petersen/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images Patrick Moorhead, the CEO of Texas-based analytics firm Moor Insights & Strategy, said in an interview with CNBC that Ternus is a "continuity candidate" and not a "risk-taking visionary." "What I'm expecting and what the streets should expect is tight operational execution, margin management, and incremental product iteration," Moorhead said. He added, "I think that's what the institutional side of the house really wants, as opposed to swinging around the room AI features, which up to this point, the company hasn't needed at all." Andrés Avila Páez, cofounder of Arturito AI Andrés Avila Páez, cofounder of Arturito AI, said in a post on X, translated from Spanish, that Cook's legacy was one of "pure operational engineering." "Steve Jobs had the idea and created the iPhone. Tim Cook imagined and designed something even more difficult: the machine that manufactures it 200 million times a year without failing," he said. Robert Reich, former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich was more critical of Cook. Win McNamee/Getty Images Robert Reich, professor at UC Berkeley and former US Secretary of Labor, took a more critical view of the resignation, urging people to remember Cook's $1 million contribution to Trump's inauguration. "He fawned over Trump and gifted him a 24-karat gold plaque (as Apple lobbied for tariff exemptions)," Reich wrote on X of Cook. Joseph Carlson, founder of Qualtrim Joseph Carlson, founder of Qualtrim and host of The Joseph Carlson Show on YouTube, defended Cook against critics who proclaim "Tim Cook didn't innovate!" In a post on X, he listed products created at Apple while Cook was CEO, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Pay, Face ID, and more. "Don't come at me with this idiotic take that Tim Cook's Apple didn't innovate," he wrote. Anthony Pompliano, CEO of Professional Capital Management Anthony Pompliano. Bloomberg/Getty Images Tech entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano spotlighted how Apple's stock has grown during Cook's 15-year tenure. In an X post on Monday, the founder and CEO of Professional Capital Management said, "He oversaw more than 2,000% increase in the stock while he was in charge." Michael Antonelli, market strategist at Baird Michael Antonelli, a market strategist at Baird, praised Cook for the value of Apple's stock surging 2,300% under his tenure. "That's INSANE. Incredible stewardship," he wrote on X, adding, "Tim Cook probably turned more normal people into millionaires than 99% of CEOs." Sawyer Merritt, Tech content creator Sawyer Merritt, a tech and EV enthusiast on X, said that he hoped Apple would take more risks under Ternus' tenure as CEO. "No-one can deny that Tim was an incredible operations guy," Merritt said in a Monday X post. "Apple stock went up ~2,000% during his 15 years as CEO, but John being an actual engineer I think is what Apple needs at this stage." He said Apple has a lot of "catching up to do on the AI front," and he hoped Ternus would bring that to the company. Read the original article on Business Insider

Jona Dunning moved from Seattle to Chiang Mai, Thailand, with his wife, Mary, and their two kids. ElJay Luke Erickson. Jona Dunning moved from the US to Thailand with his family after experiencing burnout from his corporate job. He had long been working toward early retirement but realized he didn't enjoy being out of the workforce. He snagged a remote job, which helped him to balance work with the family life he wanted. Jona Dunning spent years climbing the corporate ladder and saving aggressively to retire early. He worked in finance in Seattle, living with his wife and two kids. The job was demanding but well-paid, and he saw it as a path to financial independence. "I realized that the paychecks aren't making me happier, but they are a vehicle that can help me to really accelerate things for my family and for me," Dunning, now 40, told Business Insider. This story is part of our Retirement: Chiang Mai series, which follows people choosing to retire in northern Thailand for reasons ranging from affordability to lifestyle and care. Read more: He turned 50 and realized the entrepreneur grind wasn't worth it. 2 years later, he retired to Thailand. If you've taken a similar path, or are planning to, email this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com. In 2018, Jona got the promotion he had been gunning for and quickly found it came with intense pressure. His wife, Mary, noticed he had become more distracted, and the two began talking about making a change. The couple had long wanted to live abroad. Jona was ready for a break, Mary was a stay-at-home mom, and their children, then 1 and 3, were still young enough to adjust to a new environment. Jona, who is half Thai and grew up regularly visiting Thailand, said he had always been drawn to Chiang Mai, a city up north, about an hour's flight from Bangkok. That's where the couple decided to go. His wife, Mary, suggested he take a career break so they could finally try living abroad as a family, something they had long talked about. ElJay Luke Erickson. To make the move work, Mary, who had taught at an elementary school before having kids, had to find a job at an international school so the family could secure visas. "Since we knew what city we wanted to live in, I researched the international schools in the area and applied to the ones that seemed like they could be a good fit," Mary said, adding that it was her first time working outside the US. Once she secured a role, the move quickly became a reality. At work, Jona framed the move as a sabbatical. In June 2019, the family moved to Chiang Mai. A break that didn't feel quite right In Chiang Mai, Jona took regular Thai lessons. The warmer weather meant more time outdoors, and he said the culture felt more accommodating for young children. "Here in Thailand, you bring your kids to a restaurant, and everybody gushes over them, and they don't mind if they run around," he said. Mary found she liked working at the school. With smaller class sizes and teaching assistants to help, she said the work felt less demanding than when she taught in the US. "You are able to have a better work-life balance because of it," she said. Within six months, the couple realized how much they liked living in Chiang Mai. But Jona found it difficult to adjust to being out of the workforce. Even though the couple liked living in Chiang Mai, Jona found it hard to adjust to not working. Amanda Goh/Business Insider "I had a lot of anxiety that I wasn't working. I thought I would really enjoy being just a stay-at-home dad, studying Thai, and I really didn't," Jona said. "That was a huge realization for me, and then for anybody that's looking at FIRE really young in their life." He came to see just how much of his identity and sense of purpose had been tied to having a successful career. About 11 months after the move, he briefly opened a burrito shop with friends in Chiang Mai, which gave him a sense of purpose. But after about six months, he stepped back from the business when he landed a remote role at a Hong Kong-based consumer electronics company. He eventually landed a remote role — and that's when they "locked in" their life in Chiang Mai, he said. Amanda Goh/Business Insider "When I got that job, I'd say that's when we really locked in," he said. "And I don't remember ever looking at going back to America after that." Committing to Chiang Mai The family now lives in a home they built. They bought a plot of land near the international school their kids attend and spent about 12.1 million baht, or $377,000, building the property. The two-story property is split into two sides. One side is the family's home. The other is divided into two identical Airbnb units, each with its own entrance, three bedrooms, and an open-plan living area. One side of the home is for his family, while the other operates as Airbnb rentals. Amanda Goh/Business Insider "To have a pool and an outdoor bathroom and this kind of yard space, we would never have that if it was just our house," Jona said. "The only way we can justify having it is that it's income-producing." Each Airbnb unit rents for 4,000 to 5,000 Thai baht a night, and guests typically stay for an average of five days, he said. He spends a few hours each week managing guest communications, while two housekeepers handle turnovers. How they built their life in Chiang Mai The Chiang Mai home is part of a broader financial strategy he's been building for years to generate additional income, often considered the key to the FIRE — financial independence, retire early — movement. Before moving to Thailand, the couple had already been investing in real estate in the US. Jona said real estate was his main strategy for achieving FIRE. Amanda Goh/Business Insider They own three properties in the Seattle area, including a townhouse they bought for $430,000 in 2011, a duplex they purchased for $387,500 in 2017 as an investment property, and a $510,000 single-family home where they lived while renting out an accessory dwelling unit on the same lot. They rent out all three. Now that he has a job, Jona said he largely leaves the rental income untouched. Living in Chiang Mai has also lowered the family's cost of living while helping them enjoy a higher quality of life. Jona says their family of four spends about 160,000 Thai baht each month, including the mortgage on their Chiang Mai home and expenses related to running the Airbnb units. Their children's school fees are covered through his wife's job, which helps keep expenses lower. Living in Chiang Mai has lowered their cost of living, while helping them enjoy a higher quality of life. Amanda Goh/Business Insider Living in Chiang Mai means they can enjoy small luxuries more regularly, Mary said: "Pampering yourself with massages, nails, and whatnot is way more affordable here." Jona, who works from home, starts most days with an hour-long run. Mary now has time to train for a couple of hours after work and competes in powerlifting. "We can fill that time with things that are more satisfying for us. Our kids are really fit and really into sports and really good at all that too, because we have time to do that with them," Jona said. The couple likes the life they've built in Chiang Mai, and don't think they'll return to the US. ElJay Luke Erickson. Being part of the international school community has also made it easier to build a social circle. In Seattle, they lived far from a lot of their friends. Here, everyone lives within 20 minutes of each other. Mary said they often host dinner parties, pool parties, and playdates, and go out for drinks and meals around town. "Not only do we have a community, but we have more time to hang out with them and connect with them than we ever did in America," Jona added. Read the original article on Business Insider

Seventeen's Hoshi is rolling out a whole slate of work that he prepared way before going to serve in the Korean military. Han Myung-Gu/WireImage Male K-pop stars with Korean citizenship must fulfill mandatory military service. For most idols, that translates to around two years of hiatus-style career obsolescence. Not so for Seventeen's Hoshi. Welcome to the Hoshiverse, where one 29-year-old man can't stop, won't stop working. Hoshi is one of the 13 members of the K-pop supergroup Seventeen. Since his teen years, he's been better known by his stage name and the tiger paw symbol he throws up whenever he spots fans. Now he's known as Kwon Soonyoung, a soldier in the Korean army. Kwon is undergoing a mandated hiatus as part of his years-long military service, which often results in a long work lull for most male idols. Kwon enlisted in September for full-time military service. Through some sheer force of will or extreme hustle, Kwon prepared multiple releases to roll out during his time away. That was on top of Seventeen's regular activities — touring, producing their 10th anniversary album, and filming their variety show, "Going Seventeen." Here's what's been on his slate: One video every Monday morning, shot TikTok-style, in which he greets fans as they start their workweeks. "Hoshi TamTam" vlogs, filmed months in advance and rolling out now. Dance challenges and photo carousels are uploaded to his personal Instagram account about once every two weeks. Regular social media posts on Weverse, the platform that idols like Seventeen and BTS use to communicate with fans. A comic art-inspired photo book, "Hoshiverse," has sold out its preorders. Three singles since he enlisted: "Take A Shot," "Fallen Superstar," and "Baby Honey." What he's released in the eight months he's been away could be what an active K-pop star releases in two to three years of work. He's able to do this because he's not technically working as an idol now — he just has a seemingly never-ending backlog of content for when he's in the military. On top of his assigned military duties, Kwon also somehow found his way into performing live, this time as part of the ROK Army Taekwondo Demonstration Team. On April 16, he went to Norfolk, Virginia, with a South Korean contingent for a taekwondo performance at the Virginia International Tattoo. He's been a star member of multiple public taekwondo demonstrations since he enlisted — and a mascot-like figure on the troupe's Instagram. Other members of Seventeen have released projects during their military tenure, albeit at a less intense cadence. The band's eldest member, Yoon Jeonghan, who's wrapping up his military service in June, released a photobook, "Wanderlust," and a Japanese single, "Better Half." Jeon Wonwoo, who enlisted last April, released "Gogae," a Korean ballad, on his birthday in 2025. Both members also filmed vlogs to be released in their absence: "I-GOYA," for Yoon, and "Every Wonwoo," for Jeon. Back when Kwon was actively promoting with Seventeen, he led the group's dance team and was known for his flashy, fluid dance moves. In his absence, the band has wrapped its last big tour for the foreseeable future, "NEW_" — a 31-show, 14-city run that took the group's nine active members through Asia and four US cities. And while Kwon wasn't there for that tour, which saw the group performing to close to a million people online and offline, he's not going anywhere. Seventeen remains one of the mega company Hybe's top-selling groups. Its album, "FML," holds the record it set in 2023 for first-day sales for a K-pop album, notching more than 6.4 million copies sold overall. Read the original article on Business Insider

arXiv:2604.16482v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: As vision-based robots navigate larger environments, their spatial memory grows without bound, eventually exhausting computational resources, particularly on embedded platforms (8-16GB shared memory, $<$30W) where adding hardware is not an option. This survey examines the spatial memory efficiency problem across 88 references spanning 52 systems (1989-2025), from occupancy grids to neural implicit representations. We introduce the $\alpha = M_{\text{peak}} / M_{\text{map}}$, the ratio of peak runtime memory (the total RAM or GPU memory consumed during operation) to saved map size (the persistent checkpoint written to disk), exposing the gap between published map sizes and actual deployment cost. Independent profiling on an NVIDIA A100 GPU reveals that $\alpha$ spans two orders of magnitude within neural methods alone, ranging from 2.3 (Point-SLAM) to 215 (NICE-SLAM, whose 47,MB map requires 10GB at runtime), showing that memory architecture, not paradigm label, determines deployment feasibility. We propose a standardized evaluation protocol comprising memory growth rate, query latency, memory-completeness curves, and throughput degradation, none of which current benchmarks capture. Through a Pareto frontier analysis with explicit benchmark separation, we show that no single paradigm dominates within its evaluation regime: 3DGS methods achieve the best absolute accuracy at 90-254,MB map size on Replica, while scene graphs provide semantic abstraction at predictable cost. We provide the first independently measured $\alpha$ reference values and an $\alpha$-aware budgeting algorithm enabling practitioners to assess deployment feasibility on target hardware prior to implementation.