“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. His AI posted a 99% win rate across volatile markets.

And still, he asked a haunting question:

“Are we still in charge, or are we just obeying the logic we built?”

???? **The Visionary Who Dared to Doubt His Own Creation**

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 still aligned with our own principles?
- What would a wise person do—not just a fast one?
- Will someone be able to say, “This was our decision”?

???? **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.

“We’re not facing chaos. We’re facing precision without soul.”

???? **Building Machines That Don’t Just Process, But Perceive**

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:

“Maybe the revolution we need is one more info that listens.”

???? **The Machines Will Trade—But Who Will Say ‘Stop’?**

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

“We won’t fail because we didn’t know. We’ll fail because we didn’t pause.”

Not anti-technology. Just pro-responsibility.

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