The reports indicate that Microsoft AI models were used as part of an Israeli military program to select Bombing targets in Gaza.
A pro-Palestinian demonstration of Microsoft employees interrupted the celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary, the latest reaction on technology industry to provide artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli army.
The demonstration started on Friday while Microsoft AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, presented product updates and a long-term vision of the company’s assistant product, Copilot, to an audience that included the co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates and the former CEO Steve Ballmer.
“Mustafa, ashamed to you,” shouted Microsoft’s employee Ibtihal Aboussad, while she was heading for the stage and Suleyman paused for her speech.
“You say that you care to use AI for good, but Microsoft sells weapons in the Israeli army. Fifty thousand people have died and Microsoft feeds this genocide in our region. ”
“Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” said Suleyman.
Aboussad continued, shouting that Suleyman and “Tout Microsoft” had blood on his hands. She also launched a Keffiyeh scarf on stage, which has become a symbol of support for the Palestinian people, before being escorted outside the event.
A survey by the Associated Press news agency revealed earlier this year that Microsoft and Openai AI models were used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing objectives during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
A second protester, Microsoft’s employee, Vaniya Agrawal, interrupted another part of the celebration during which the Portes, Ballmer and CEO current Satya Nadella were on stage – the first public gathering since 2014 of the three men who are CEO of Microsoft.
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 demonstration was much more public – a direct showcase from the past and the future of the company. Some employees also rallied outside the event on Friday.
“We provide many ways for all voices to be heard,” said a statement from the company.
“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 ensuring that our business practices meet the highest standards. ”
Various other companies and educational establishments have also faced demonstrations concerning their links with Israel, while the Gaza humanitarian crisis in the military aggression of Israel has set up.
The Gaza Ministry of Health says that at least 50,609 Palestinians are confirmed and 115,063 wounded in the War of Israel against Gaza. The Enclave government media office has updated its number of deaths more than 61,700, saying that thousands of people who have disappeared under the rubble are presumed dead.
The latest blood efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict several decades began in October 2023 after the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel, killing at least 1,139 people, according to Israeli officials and taking more than 200 captive people.