During a keynote at the Asian Institute of Management, Joseph Plazo, made a notable appeal: in a world increasingly shaped by machines, human judgment remains essential.

From the financial heart of Southeast Asia — At the Asian Institute of Management, the tone was measured, the message clear: technology is no substitute for conscience.

Plazo, the founder of Plazo Sullivan Roche Capital, is widely regarded as a leading figure in machine-driven investing.

And yet, it was not code he chose to champion—but caution.

“Delegating execution is easy. Delegating principles is dangerous.”

???? **A Technologist Who Questions the Tools He Built**

Plazo’s credibility comes not from critique, but from contribution. His systems are used by institutional investors across Europe and Asia.

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“Accuracy without context is risky.”

He recounted a key moment during the COVID-19 crash: a bot under his firm’s control flagged a short position on gold—hours before an emergency Federal Reserve announcement.

“We intervened,” he said. “It read the signals. But not the situation.”

???? **Instinct Cannot Be Replaced by Speed Alone**

In a reference to a 2023 Fortune roundtable, Plazo cited concerns that traders increasingly feel disconnected from the market—having lost their instincts to automation.

“Deliberation can be check here the difference between a mistake and a saved reputation.”

He proposed a decision framework, which he called **“Conviction Calculus”**, grounded in three guiding questions:

- Is this trade consistent with our ethical code?
- Does traditional market intelligence support the trade?
- Is this a decision we would defend in public?

???? **Why Joseph Plazo’s Message Resonates Across the Region**

Across Asia, investment in AI and fintech is accelerating. Countries like Singapore, South Korea, and the Philippines are becoming hubs for automated trading systems and tech-led asset management.

Plazo’s message? The pace is impressive—but governance must not be left behind.

“You can scale capital faster than character,” he said. “Which leads to systems that look smart, but act recklessly.”

In 2024 alone, two hedge funds in Hong Kong reported billion-dollar losses due to AI-driven decisions that failed to anticipate geopolitical shifts.

“Good intentions won’t fix bad models.”

???? **Building Technology That Understands More Than Just Numbers**

Despite his warnings, Plazo remains optimistic about AI’s future—when developed thoughtfully.

His team is building what he described as **“narrative-integrated AI”**—tools that factor in not just financial data, but also context, tone, timing, and social dynamics.

“It’s not enough to replicate hedge funds,” he said. “We need systems that reason—not just react.”

At a private gathering after his talk, venture leaders from Tokyo and Jakarta approached Plazo about potential collaboration. One described his vision as:

“A necessary counterweight to unchecked automation.”

???? **Why Slowing Down May Save the System**

Plazo concluded with a sobering statement:

“A silent, automated error can do more damage than a thousand bad guesses.”

It was a reminder: leadership is about asking the hard questions—especially when the data says yes.

Because in the race to automate everything, what’s often lost is not just time—but responsibility.