Microsoft Anniversary Event Disrupted by Pro-Palestine Protest Over AI Ties to Israeli Military

International News : Microsoft's 50th-anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, on Friday faced a significant disruption when pro-Palestine protesters, identified as company employees, voiced their strong opposition to the tech giant's involvement in supplying artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military. The protest unfolded during a high-profile event attended by prominent figures including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella.

Employee Confronts AI Leadership

The initial disruption occurred as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was delivering a presentation on product updates and the future vision for the company's AI assistant, Copilot. Ibtihal Aboussad, a Microsoft employee, approached the stage and directly confronted Suleyman, halting his speech.

Accusations of Complicity in Genocide

Aboussad angrily stated, "Mustafa, shame on you. You claim that you care about using AI for good but in reality  AI weapons are being sold to Israeli military by  Microsoft" Fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.” Suleyman responded by acknowledging her protest, saying, "Thank you for your protest, I hear you." However, Aboussad continued her protest, accusing Suleyman and the entirety of Microsoft of having "blood on their hands." Before being escorted out of the event, she also threw a keffiyeh scarf, a widely recognized symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people, onto the stage.

Second Protest Targets Leadership Trio

Later in the celebration, a second Microsoft employee, Vaniya Agrawal, interrupted a segment featuring Gates, Ballmer, and Nadella – their first joint public appearance since 2014. The specific nature of Agrawal's protest during this segment was not detailed in the provided text.

Background of AI Involvement

The protests follow earlier revelations by The Associated Press, which indicated that AI models developed by Microsoft and OpenAI have been utilized as part of an Israeli military program for selecting bombing targets during recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The report also highlighted a tragic 2023 incident involving an errant Israeli airstrike that resulted in the deaths of three young Lebanese girls and their grandmother.

Previous Employee Actions and Company Response

Friday's public demonstration was not the first instance of employee activism within Microsoft regarding these contracts. In February, five employees were reportedly ejected from an internal meeting with CEO Satya Nadella for protesting the company's involvement. In response to the latest protests, Microsoft issued a statement emphasizing its commitment to providing avenues for all voices to be heard, while also stating the expectation that such expressions do not cause business disruptions. The company added that in cases of disruption, participants would be asked to relocate.

Potential Repercussions for Protesters

Microsoft declined to comment on any potential further action regarding the protesting employees. However, Ibtihal Aboussad informed the AP that she and Vaniya Agrawal lost access to their work accounts following the protest, suggesting the possibility of their termination.