THE DAY ASIA’S BRIGHTEST MINDS WERE CONFRONTED BY A HARD TRUTH

The scene was set for celebration. What unfolded was a reckoning.MANILA — At the heart of the Philippines’ premier university, Asia’s brightest students—engineers, economists, AI researchers—converged to see the future of trading laid bare by machines.They expected Plazo to preach automation, unveil breakthroughs, and fan their enthusiasm

In a world racing toward automation, Joseph Plazo offered something rare: pause. At the University of the Philippines, in a hall steeped in tradition and ambition, Joseph Plazo spoke not to impress, but to interrupt.---### The Opening Line That Changed the Atmosphere He didn’t offer promises. He offered paradox.“AI can beat the market. But