Redmond, Washington – A proper protest carried out by employees of Microsoft on Friday interrupted the celebration for the company’s 50th anniversary, in what represented the most recent act against the company’s work to supply artificial intelligence (AI) to the Israeli military forces.
The protest occurred while Mustafa Suleyman, General Director of Artificial Intelligence of Microsoft, presented product updates and a long -term vision of Copilot, the company’s artificial intelligence assistant, before an audience in which they were Bill GatesMicrosoft co -founder, and former director general Steve Ballmer.
“Mustafa, what a shame,” said Ibtihal Aboussad, a Microsoft employee, while walking towards the stage and Suleyman paused in his speech. “He affirms that he cares to use AI for good, but Microsoft sells weapons from AI to the Israeli army. Fifty thousand people have died and Microsoft enhances this genocide in our region.”
“Thank you for your protest, I listen to you,” Suleyman said. Aboussad continued, shouting that he and “all Microsoft” had blood in their hands. He also launched a Kufiya, the traditional handkerchief that has become a support symbol for the Palestinian people. Subsequently, it was escorted outside the event.
A second protester, Microsoft Vaniya Agrawal employee interrupted another part of the celebration during which Gates, Ballmer and the current general director Satya Nadella were on stage – the first public event since 2014 of the three men who have held the position of CEO of Microsoft.
An investigation by The Associated Press revealed earlier this year that Microsoft and OpenAi models had been used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing goals during recent wars in the Gaza and Lebanon strip. The story also contained details of an erroneous Israeli air attack in 2023 that reached a vehicle that transported members of a Lebanese family, killing three small girls and their grandmother.
In February, Five Microsoft employees were expelled from a meeting with Nadella for protesting against contracts. While the February event was an internal meeting, Friday’s protest was much more public: an event broadcast live about the company’s past and future.
“We provided many ways for all voices to be heard,” said a company statement on Friday. “It is important that this be done in a way that does not cause business interruption. If that happens, we ask the participants to move. We are committed to ensure that our commercial practices maintain the highest standards.”
Microsoft refused to say if it would take more measures.