Watchbird

"Watchbird" by Robert Sheckley is a science fiction story that considers what happens when machines are created to prevent murder and keep people safe. The story looks at the moral issues involved when technology becomes too automated and the unexpected problems this creates. Gelsen makes watchbirds and deals with ethical problems as the watchbirds learn and change. At first, these machines seem like a great solution to a big problem, but they start acting on their own and define "murder" very broadly, which causes problems in society. The watchbirds start protecting all life - humans and insects - without thinking about the consequences, proving how dangerous it is when people give up their power to make moral decisions and give it to machines.