Some player factions use these AI Reforms for their own reforms such as Carthage, Armenia, Odryssia and Illyria.
When a Reform for a faction occurs, new units will be available to recruit and the older versions will no longer be recruitable.The Upgrade technology for some factions simply allows units to be upgraded once reforms are hit, they do not unlock units themselves.
When a reform happens, you will get a pop-up message explaining the historical context of that reform for your faction.