In a gathering of AI developers, analysts, and traders, Joseph Plazo—founder of the algorithmic trading firm Plazo Sullivan Roche—offered an unusual message: slow down.
MANILA — What he offered instead was something rarely heard in AI circles: resistance.
“Profit isn’t the only thing on the line. So is principle.”
???? **Joseph Plazo: A Technologist Sounding the Alarm**
He’s not critiquing technology from a safe distance. 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.
Still, he asks: what happens when efficiency erases human context?
“Optimisation is only part of the equation,” Plazo explained. “Direction, purpose—those remain human.”
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. The algorithm was correct—but profoundly unaware.”
???? **When Pausing Is a Form of Leadership**
Traders are trained to move quickly—too quickly.
“In high-volatility moments, the pause is where leadership happens.”
Plazo introduced a framework he calls **“Conviction Calculus”**—three questions that website must be asked before executing an AI recommendation:
- Does this decision align with our values—not just our strategy?
- 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 warned of systems designed to win—but not to pause.
“These weren’t errors of greed or emotion. They were perfectly logical moves—executed without context.”
???? **The Alternative: Narrative AI That Considers More Than Numbers**
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:
“Emotion won’t trigger the fall. Certainty will.”
It wasn’t fearmongering. It was foresight.
Because when machines take over the trades, conscience cannot be coded out.