# Epic: Self-Evolution Engine (Deferred)

## DESCRIPTION
Assisted model discovery and platform updates. Manual curation in early phases, assisted discovery in Phase 4, semi-autonomous with human approval gate long-term.

**POST-PIVOT (2026-02-14)**: Dramatically simplified and DEFERRED to Phase 4. Original plan had autonomous self-evolution in Phase 4-5 with zero human intervention. Research showed nobody has made autonomous code evolution work in production. New approach: manual → assisted → semi-autonomous. No fully autonomous evolution.

## BACKLOG ITEMS

### EVO-001: Model Registry Monitor
- **Priority**: P1
- **Phase**: 4
- **Status**: BACKLOG
- **Description**: Watch HuggingFace, provider APIs, and leaderboards for new model releases. Notify admin of relevant new models.
- **Acceptance**: New models detected within 24 hours. Notification sent to admin with metadata and relevance score.
- **Dependencies**: None

### EVO-002: Automated Benchmarking
- **Priority**: P1
- **Phase**: 4
- **Status**: BACKLOG
- **Description**: Standardized test suite to evaluate new models against existing fleet. Run in sandbox.
- **Acceptance**: New model scored on quality, latency, cost, hardware requirements. Results visible in admin dashboard.
- **Dependencies**: EVO-001

### EVO-003: Model Recommendation to Users
- **Priority**: P1
- **Phase**: 4
- **Status**: BACKLOG
- **Description**: After benchmarking, suggest new models to users based on their hardware and usage patterns. "New model X is 20% faster for code completion on your hardware."
- **Acceptance**: Users receive relevant model suggestions. One-click `ollama pull` from dashboard.
- **Dependencies**: EVO-002, CF-005

### EVO-004: Admin Approval Workflow
- **Priority**: P1
- **Phase**: 4
- **Status**: BACKLOG
- **Description**: Admin reviews model benchmark results and approves/rejects recommendations before they go to users.
- **Acceptance**: Admin sees benchmark data, approves with one click. Only approved models recommended.
- **Dependencies**: EVO-002, FE-017

### EVO-005: kNN Index Retraining Pipeline
- **Priority**: P1
- **Phase**: 4
- **Status**: BACKLOG
- **Description**: Automated retraining of global kNN routing index from aggregated user data. Canary deployment with automated rollback.
- **Acceptance**: kNN index improves over time. Canary checks prevent regressions. Rollback within 5 minutes.
- **Dependencies**: CB-005, CB-013

### EVO-006: Dependency Update Monitor
- **Priority**: P2
- **Phase**: 4
- **Status**: BACKLOG
- **Description**: Track Ollama, LiteLLM, and other dependency updates. Test in sandbox. Propose updates to admin.
- **Acceptance**: Dependency updates detected, tested, proposed. Admin approves before deployment.
- **Dependencies**: EVO-004, CI/CD pipeline
