“AI Can Manage Your Money—But Not Your Morals, Says Joseph Plazo”“AI Can Manage Your Money—But Not Your Morals, Says Joseph Plazo”“Joseph Plazo: Algorithms Are Powerful, But Not Principled”
At a gathering of some of the region’s top young economic thinkers, AI fund pioneer Joseph Plazo, made a notable appeal: in a world increasingly shaped by machines, ethical decision-making must not be lost.
MANILA — Within one of Manila’s top academic venues, what began as a discussion on AI became a deeper debate on accountability.
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. He has helped reshape modern investment practices through AI.
“
“AI is excellent at execution. But poor at explaining ‘why’.”
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. “The AI was technically correct, but it lacked the wider understanding.”
???? **The Importance of Human Oversight in Automated Systems**
In a reference to a 2023 Fortune roundtable, Plazo cited concerns that traders increasingly feel disconnected from the market—no longer making decisions, but following models.
“Friction slows trading, yes,” he said. “But it creates space for reflection.”
He proposed a decision framework, which he called **“Conviction Calculus”**, grounded in three guiding questions:
- Does this move copyright the firm’s reputation?
- Have non-digital factors been considered—such as public sentiment, leadership experience, or history?
- Are we prepared to accept accountability if the model fails?
???? **Technology Is Advancing, But Is Oversight Keeping Pace?**
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? We may be scaling faster than we are thinking.
“You can scale capital faster than character,” he said. “And that imbalance is a concern.”
In 2024 alone, two hedge funds in Hong Kong reported billion-dollar losses due to AI-driven decisions that failed to anticipate geopolitical shifts.
“Machines are fast—but they’re not wise.”
???? **The Next Step: Context-Aware AI**
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.
“We need tools that understand meaning, not just movement.”
At a private gathering after his talk, his proposals attracted immediate interest from capital firms seeking long-term resilience. One described his vision as:
“A timely model for responsible innovation.”
???? **Final Thought: The Most Dangerous Errors Are the Quietest**
Plazo concluded with a click here sobering statement:
“Crashes won’t always be emotional. Some will be perfectly rational—and perfectly wrong.”
It wasn’t alarmist. It was necessary.
Because in the race to automate everything, what’s often lost is not just time—but responsibility.