Priyanka Tiwari
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Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration was disrupted by a pro-Palestinian protest led by company employees, targeting the firm's involvement in military AI applications. The incident occurred during a keynote presentation by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, with co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer in attendance.
As Suleyman discussed long-term AI plans and updates to Microsoft’s Copilot assistant, employee Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted the event. “Mustafa, shame on you,” she shouted, accusing Microsoft of enabling military action through AI technologies.
“You claim that you care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region,” Aboussad declared during the livestreamed presentation.
Suleyman responded calmly: “Thank you for your protest, I hear you.”
Protests Target Microsoft’s AI Collaboration with Israeli Defense Programs
A second interruption followed later in the event, involving Microsoft employee Vaniya Agrawal, during a rare on-stage reunion of Gates, Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella. Outside the venue, additional employees rallied in protest against Microsoft's military contracts.
These actions are part of a broader employee-led backlash within the tech industry over partnerships involving AI applications in active conflict zones, particularly in Gaza.
Background: AI Use in Conflict Zones
An investigation by the Associated Press earlier this year revealed that AI models developed by Microsoft and OpenAI were used in an Israeli military program to identify bombing targets during recent military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. The report also detailed a misdirected 2023 Israeli airstrike that killed civilians in Lebanon, further intensifying scrutiny on tech firms supplying AI tools to defense agencies.
Company Response and Employee Access Revoked
Following Friday’s public demonstration, Microsoft issued a statement:
“We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard… we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption.”
The company declined to confirm any disciplinary actions, but both Aboussad and Agrawal reportedly lost access to their work accounts shortly after the event, suggesting potential terminations.
This protest marks a continuation of employee dissent. In February, five Microsoft employees were removed from a meeting with Satya Nadella for protesting similar concerns during an internal session.
