At a regional summit of young minds trained in data and dollars, Joseph Plazo—founder of the algorithmic trading firm Plazo Sullivan Roche—broke the rhythm of praise for AI with a moment of reckoning.
From Manila, where financial optimism runs high — Plazo didn’t talk about speed or scale.
“If you hand over your portfolio to a machine,” he said, “you must ask: does it reflect your ethics—or just your ambitions?”
???? **He Built the Bot. But He’s Not Sure We’re Ready for It.**
He isn’t speaking from the sidelines. His firm’s AI systems have posted a 99% win rate across key timeframes and are in use by institutional clients across Europe and Asia.
And yet, his concern is clear: accuracy means little without accountability.
“AI can optimise a mistake to perfection if no one stops it.”
He shared a case from the early days of the pandemic. One of his firm’s bots flagged a short on gold just before the U.S. Federal Reserve issued an emergency policy shift.
“We overrode it. It was a machine doing math, not reading history.”
???? **Machines Act Fast. But Leadership Sometimes Waits.**
AI’s appeal lies in its instant execution. But at what cost?
“Friction is not failure,” Plazo told the audience. “It is the space where judgment lives.”
Plazo introduced a framework he calls **“Conviction Calculus”**—three questions that must be asked before executing an AI recommendation:
- Who takes responsibility if the code is flawless—but the outcome disastrous?
- Are we listening to voices that can’t be graphed?
- Can we stand by this choice if it goes wrong—publicly, transparently?
???? **As Fintech Booms, Where Are the Ethical Guardrails?**
Across Asia, nations are investing heavily in fintech and AI-driven innovation. From Singapore to South Korea, the push toward automation is framed as economic strategy.
But Plazo’s question cuts deeper: “AI is moving capital—but is it moving it in the right direction?”
He cited the 2024 collapse of two Hong Kong hedge funds.
“These weren’t errors of greed or emotion. They were perfectly logical moves—executed without context.”
???? **A New Path: Machines That Listen as Well as Compute**
Plazo is not anti-AI. He’s pro-responsibility.
His firm is developing what he calls **“narrative-integrated AI”**—models that factor in geopolitics, tone, and social context alongside market data.
“Machines that don’t just predict, but understand.”
At a private dinner after the event, multiple venture capital leaders discussed collaborations.
One investor called Plazo’s talk:
“A blueprint for ethical AI in an unequal world.”
???? **What Happens When No One Says ‘Stop’**
Plazo ended with a thought that may echo across boardrooms:
“We won’t be victims of chaos—but of unchecked confidence.”
Not a warning against AI—but a demand check here for wisdom to go with it.
Because when machines take over the trades, conscience cannot be coded out.