What researchers are saying
Wolfe says recursive self-improvement bundles three separate ideas
Jason Wolfe, OpenAI
Wolfe distinguished automation of research, the pace of progress and the degree of human understanding and control, and argued the scenarios can come apart.
In the Daily Brief of 4 November 2026
Jason Wolfe of OpenAI argued that the term recursive self-improvement bundles scenarios that can come apart. He distinguished the automation of research from the pace of progress, and both from how far humans understand and control the process.
His conclusion is procedural: clarity about goals should come before any discussion of limits.