Microsoft marked its 50th anniversary with a high-profile event that was disrupted by employee protests. Staff objected to the company’s reported involvement in supplying artificial intelligence tools to the Israeli military.
The protest unfolded on Friday during a keynote presentation by Microsoft’s AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman. He was presenting the company’s AI developments to an audience that included co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.
Microsoft employee confronts AI chief on stage
Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted Suleyman’s presentation and criticised the company for reportedly supporting military operations in Gaza.
“Mustafa, shame on you,” she shouted while approaching the stage. “You say AI should be used for good, but Microsoft supplies AI tools to the Israeli military. More than 50,000 people have died, and Microsoft plays a role in this.”
Suleyman briefly paused and replied, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you.”
Aboussad continued, accusing Suleyman and the company of having “blood on their hands.” She then threw a keffiyeh—a symbol of Palestinian solidarity—onto the stage. Security staff escorted her out of the venue.
Reports link microsoft AI to military operations
The Associated Press reported earlier this year that the Israeli military used AI models developed by Microsoft and OpenAI in a programme to identify bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon.
Another Microsoft employee, Vaniya Agrawal, disrupted a later segment of the event. That portion featured Gates, Ballmer and current CEO Satya Nadella together on stage for the first time since 2014.
In February, five employees protested against Microsoft’s defence contracts during an internal meeting with Nadella. Security removed them from that meeting. Unlike the previous incident, the latest protest happened in public and was livestreamed. Several other employees gathered outside the event to show their support.
Company responds to growing pressure
After the event, Microsoft released a statement addressing the demonstration.
“We offer many ways for employees to express their views,” the company said. “However, we ask that they do so without disrupting business activities. When disruptions occur, we ask participants to move elsewhere. We remain committed to maintaining high ethical standards in all our operations.”
Several other companies and universities have also faced protests over connections to Israel, especially as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 50,600 Palestinians have died and over 115,000 have been injured. The Government Media Office in Gaza updated the total death toll to over 61,700, stating that many people remain trapped under collapsed buildings.
The latest round of violence began in October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Israeli officials say the assault killed at least 1,139 people and led to more than 200 hostages being taken.
