On Job Loss and Responsible Automation: Why and How Firms Should Accompany Their Employees — A Case Study of Professional Truck Driving

Though, at times, technological and scientific advancements are more than desired (SARS-CoV2 vaccine), there are many cases when innovations alert public suspicion. For instance, with autonomous trucks already a reality in pilot projects, questions about the future of their drivers are raised. Also in other fields the fear of AI-powered automation creates a sense of uneasiness. This thesis aims to give reasons why it is economically advantageous for a company to respect the reciprocity to its employees, thereby earning high levels of acceptance among a public suspicious toward AI, and thus responsibly introducing a revolutionary technology. Moreover, the findings are applied in a practical context. By examining the debut of autonomous vehicles in professional trucking, their impact on drivers, and how to best assist them in their transition to a driverless future.