Dictionary entry
recursive self-improvement
also RSI or intelligence explosion
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Definition of recursive self-improvement
-
: a scenario in which an AI system improves its own design, and each improved version gets better at improving itself, potentially leading to very fast gains in capability
- Labs already use AI to write AI code, a mild first step toward recursive self-improvement.
- Recursive self-improvement is the engine behind most 'singularity' stories.
Origin & history
first known use1965
The idea goes back to mathematician I. J. Good's 1965 description of an 'intelligence explosion'.
Test yourself
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Cite this entry
"Recursive self-improvement." AI Dictionary, Dadgogo, https://dadgogo.com/dictionary/recursive-self-improvement/. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.
Dictionary entries near recursive self-improvement
- RAMageddon
- rate limit
- reasoning
- reasoning model
- recursive self-improvement
- red teaming
- reinforcement learning
- reranking
- responsible AI
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