COVID-19 and Singularity: Can the Philippines Survive Another Existential Threat?

• Main Authors: Boyles, Robert James M., Dacela, Mark Anthony, Evangelista, Tyrone Renzo, Rodriguez, Jon Carlos
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2022
• Subjects: technological singularity; artificial intelligence; COVID-19; existential threat; Philippine disaster response
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/apssr/vol22/iss2/13; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/apssr/article/1428/viewcontent/RA_2012_revised.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

In general, existential threats are those that may potentially result in the extinction of the entire human species, if not significantly endanger its living population. Among the said threats include, but not limited to, pandemics and the impacts of a technological singularity. As regards pandemics, significant work has already been done on how to mitigate, if not prevent, the aftereffects of this type of disaster. For one, certain problem areas on how to properly manage pandemic responses have already been identified, like the following: (a) not being able to learn from previous experiences, (b) the inability to act on warning signals, and (c) the failure to reach a global consensus on a problem (i.e., in a timely manner). In terms of a singularity, however, it may be said that further research is still needed, specifically on how to aptly respond to its projected negative outcomes. In this paper, by treating the three problem areas noted above as preliminary assessment measures of a country’s capacity to coordinate a national response to large-scale disasters, we examine the readiness of the Philippines in preparing for an intelligence explosion. By citing certain instances of how the said country, specifically its national government, faced the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, it puts forward the idea that the likely Philippine disaster response towards a singularity needs to be worked on, appealing for a more comprehensive assessment of such for a more informed response plan.