During Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration in Redmond, Washington, software engineer Ibtihal Aboussad publicly protested the company’s alleged provision of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to the Israeli military. Aboussad interrupted a presentation by Microsoft’s AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman, accusing the company of profiting from warfare and facilitating genocide in Gaza. She specifically criticized a $133 million defense contract and the use of Microsoft Azure and AI tools in military operations. Security personnel escorted her out after she threw a keffiyeh scarf onto the stage. ​
Later in the event, another employee, Vaniya Agrawal, confronted former and current Microsoft CEOs Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Satya Nadella, condemning the company’s alleged complicity in Israeli military actions in Gaza. Agrawal, who announced her resignation, urged colleagues to protest Microsoft’s involvement and sign a petition demanding the termination of such partnerships. ​
These protests align with an Associated Press investigation revealing that AI tools developed by Microsoft and OpenAI were utilized by the Israeli military to select bombing targets during conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. This has raised ethical concerns and prompted internal dissent within the company. ​
Microsoft has stated that it supports employee expression through proper channels without disrupting business operations. However, both Aboussad and Agrawal reported losing access to their work accounts following the protests, indicating possible termination. ​
These incidents reflect ongoing internal debates and employee activism concerning Microsoft’s business engagements and their ethical implications.​
