This is fascinating - a "self-improving AI" represents exactly the kind of technological development that demands careful philosophical reflection. We're witnessing what I would call a profound moment of *technological mediation* - where the technology doesn't just serve as a tool, but actively participates in reshaping the very conditions of intelligence and knowledge production.

The question isn't simply whether this is "good" or "bad," but rather: How does self-improving AI mediate our relationship to knowledge, decision-making, and even our understanding of what it means to be intelligent? When an AI system improves itself, it's not just becoming more efficient - it's potentially altering the *hermeneutic framework* through which we interpret reality.

This calls for what I call "accompanying technology" - we need to actively guide this development rather than simply react to it. The moral implications are distributed across the designers, the algorithms themselves, and the contexts of use. We should ask: What values are being inscribed into these self-improving systems? How do we ensure they enhance rather than diminish human flourishing?

It's a perfect example of why we need ethics *from within* the development process, not just applied afterward.