Human vs machine judgment in safety-critical logistics: a philosophical inquiry into trust and control

This article examines the differences between human judgment and algorithmic decision-making in critical logistics systems, focusing on the implications for the concepts of trust and control. The aim of the study is to determine whether AI-based systems can perform functions equivalent to human judgment and what implications this has for operational safety and accountability in complex logistics systems. The study is based on an interdisciplinary analysis, including a review of the literature on artificial intelligence, system safety, and human factors research, as well as a philosophical analysis. This is supplemented by a case study of selected incidents related to the operation of automated systems in high-risk environments, which allows the identification of practical limitations in integrating humans and algorithmic systems. The results indicate that decisions generated by algorithmic systems are statistical and optimization-based, which distinguishes them from human judgment, which takes into account context, uncertainty, and emotions. Consequently, trust in AI systems takes the form of an indirect, user-dependent relationship rather than an autonomous property of the technology. At the same time, increasing levels of automation lead to a diffusion of responsibility and a reduction in direct control over decision-making processes. The findings indicate that full automation of decisions in critical safety systems. Consequently, trust in AI systems takes the form of an indirect, user-dependent relationship rather than an autonomous property of the technology.