A pro-Palestinian protest by Microsoft employees took center stage during the company’s 50th anniversary celebration, drawing attention to growing concerns over the tech giant’s collaboration with the Israeli military. The protest occurred during a live-streamed event at Microsoft’s headquarters, where AI chief Mustafa Suleyman was presenting updates on the company’s AI assistant product, Copilot, in the presence of key figures such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.
Ibtihal Aboussad, a Microsoft employee, interrupted Suleyman’s speech to accuse the company of complicity in the ongoing Gaza conflict. “Mustafa, shame on you,” she shouted while confronting Suleyman. “Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.” Suleyman acknowledged her concerns, and Aboussad, continuing her protest, threw a keffiyeh scarf—symbolizing Palestinian solidarity—onto the stage before being escorted out.
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The protest was followed by another disruption from Vaniya Agrawal, who criticized Microsoft’s ties to Israel’s military use of AI. Agrawal’s interruption occurred during a segment featuring Gates, Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella, marking the first public appearance of the trio together since 2014.
The protests were fueled by reports earlier this year that AI models developed by Microsoft and OpenAI were used by the Israeli military to select bombing targets during conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The protests have highlighted the growing tensions between tech companies and their employees over corporate involvement in military operations. In response, Microsoft issued a statement calling for protests to be conducted in a way that does not disrupt business operations but did not comment on potential disciplinary actions against the protesters.
This incident reflects the broader debate over the role of tech companies in global conflicts, with more employees speaking out against corporate practices they view as unethical or harmful.
