The presentation of Microsoft AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, was interrupted by the pro-Palestinian employee demonstration during the company’s 50th anniversary celebration on Friday in the last reaction on technology industry to provide artificial intelligence technology to Israeli military conflict in the middle of Gaza.
Microsoft’s co -founder Bill Gates, and former CEO Steve Ballmer were in the public when the event began as a company AI head, Mustafa Suleyman, presented product updates and a long -term vision of the company’s assistant product, Copilo, according to the Associated Press press agency.
“Mustafa, ashamed to you”, was seen an employee of Microsoft, identified as Ibtihal Aboussad, shouting in videos of the incident which surfaced on social networks. She headed for the stage and Suleyman poorly spent her speech.
“You say that you care to use AI for good, but Microsoft sells weapons in the Israeli army. Fifty thousand people are dead and Microsoft feeds this genocide in our region,” she said with Stridence.
“Stop using the AI for the genocide,” she said.
Bill Gates, Satya Nadella faces a demonstration
Mustafa Suleyman said: “Thank you for your protest, I hear you”, while Aboussad continued to shout that he and “everything Microsoft” had blood on his hands. Before being escorted out of the event, she launched a Kffiyeh scarf on the stage, which has become a symbol of support for the Palestinians.
Another Microsoft Protestant employee, identified as Vaniya Agrawal, interrupted another part of the celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary during which Bill Gates, Ballmer and CEO current Satya Nadella were on stage – the first public rally since 2014 of the three men who are CEO of Microsoft.
A survey by the Associated Press earlier this year revealed that Microsoft and Openai AI models were used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing objectives during recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
The report quoted an incident in 2023, when an Israeli air shot was mistakenly targeted a vehicle bearing a Lebanese family, killing three young girls and their grandmother.
In February, five Microsoft employees were withdrawn from a meeting with CEO Satya Nadella after protesting against the contracts of the military program. While this event was internal, the event on Friday took place during an event in difficulty presenting the past and future efforts of the company.
“We provide many ways for all voices to be heard … Above all, we ask that this is done in a way that does not cause commercial disruption. If this happens, we ask participants to move. We are committed to guarantee that our commercial practices confirm the highest standards,” said Microsoft on Friday.
Microsoft did not comment if it would take additional measures in response to the demonstration. Aboussad told AP that she had not heard of the company, but noted that she and Agrawal, another demonstrator, lost access to their work accounts after the demonstration and were unable to reconnect, which could suggest that they were dismissed.
