What is RSI?
Recursive Self Improvement (RSI) is the idea that an AI system can iteratively improve its own capabilities — not just by learning more, but by improving the very process through which it learns, codes, and reasons. When combined with agents, skills, and rules, RSI creates a compounding loop where each iteration builds on the last.
The Augmentation Ladder
AI (chatbot) — boosted, but not very much
AI Agents (such as AI IDEs) — much bigger boost than chatbots
Agents + Skills — slightly more, since skills upgrade code quality
Agents + Skills + Rules — better because less chaos
Agents + Skills + Rules + RSI — way better, compounding improvement
Impact depends on whether the project is from scratch or has existing code. With existing code, the boost is much larger.