Artificial intelligence systems may soon be able to build themselves without human involvement, marking a significant shift in AI research and development. This could lead to rapid advancements in AI capabilities, potentially transforming the field and society as a whole. The evidence suggests that all the necessary components for automating AI production are in place, and scaling trends indicate that models may soon be able to substitute for human researchers. Why it matters: the emergence of self-building AI systems could revolutionize the field and have far-reaching implications for the future of work, innovation, and humanity.