Public Release - 2026-06-22

Self-modification is not a feature until its authority boundary is inspectable.

Artifact: bounded_self_modification_review_v1. This note defines the public fields required before a modification proposal can be separated from production authority.

modification_proposal isolation_boundary replay_route validation_gate rollback_record human_approval production_authority

Evidence Map Registries Boundaries Counterexamples

Bounded Self-Modification Review Note v1 public evidence visual.

Artifact

A system that can rewrite itself needs a smaller claim, not a larger slogan.

This note treats self-modification as a review object. A proposal can be generated, isolated, replayed, validated, rejected, rolled back, or approved. It does not become production authority by being fluent.

Isolation

The first boundary is between proposing and acting.

The isolation boundary is the difference between a model suggesting a change and a system allowing that change to affect users, money, robots, data, or policy. Without that boundary, self-improvement becomes unreviewed authority escalation.

Authority

Human approval is a field, not a vibe.

The review note requires production authority to be explicit. If authority is absent, the proposal remains evidence for review only. If authority is pending, the missing gate must be named. If authority is approved, the receipt should exist.

modification_proposal

The proposed change, separated from any right to execute in production.

isolation_boundary

The boundary that prevents the proposal from touching live authority.

replay_route

The route used to replay and inspect the proposed modification.

validation_gate

The test or review gate required before status can change.

rollback_record

The record showing how the change would be reversed or rejected.

production_authority

Whether the proposal has no authority, pending authority, or approved authority.