“Trading Without Conscience: What AI Still Can’t Do”

“Trading Without Conscience: What AI Still Can’t Do”

Blog Article

At the Asian Institute of Management—one of Asia’s top business schools, Joseph Plazo gave a talk that many didn’t expect—and even fewer will forget.

He’s no alarmist. He’s one of its architects.

And still, he asked a haunting question:

“If a machine gets it wrong, who raises their hand to say ‘I approved this’?”

???? **Joseph Plazo Built the Future—And Now Wants to Slow It Down**

He didn’t present more proof of AI’s success. He pointed to its blind spots.

He shared a critical moment from 2020. One of his bots flagged a short position on gold—minutes before the U.S. Federal Reserve unleashed a rescue package.

“We overrode the trade,” Plazo said. “It saw a number. Not a nation in crisis.”

???? **When Algorithms Erase the Space for Thought**

Plazo spoke of **“strategic friction”**—those moments of hesitation that seem inefficient, but are, in fact, human.

“Friction slows down execution—but it also protects your legacy.”

He then introduced a framework his team calls **Conviction Calculus**. Three questions. Every trade. Every time.

- Are we okay being right in numbers, but wrong in ethics?
- What would a wise person do—not just a fast one?
- If this goes wrong, can we get more info take the blame—or will we just blame the bot?

???? **Asia’s Fintech Boom—and the Responsibility Gap**

Across the Asia-Pacific, governments and VCs are pouring billions into AI finance. Singapore, Seoul, Manila—each is racing toward the digital frontier.

But Plazo’s message was stark:

“Innovation without reflection is how systems break—quietly, efficiently.”

He referenced two Hong Kong hedge funds that lost billions in 2024—systems that did everything they were told, and still failed.

“The machine worked. But the humans didn’t question it.”

???? **Plazo’s Future: Not Just Faster AI, But Wiser AI**

Plazo isn’t abandoning AI. He’s evolving it.

His team is now working on **narrative-integrated AI**—models that assess intent, culture, geopolitical risk, tone. Not just price action.

“AI must amplify wisdom—not erase it.”

At a private dinner after the speech, investors from across Asia approached Plazo. Not for tech. For partnerships. For principles.

One said:

“This isn’t about performance. It’s about the kind of world we want to build.”

???? **The Final Whisper Before the Fall**

Plazo closed with a line that lingered long after the lights dimmed:

“The greatest danger is not fear. It’s obedience.”

It wasn’t fearmongering. It was clarity.

And in a world obsessed with the future, sometimes the bravest thing a leader can do—is ask what we might regret.