In a striking incident during Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration held in Redmond, Washington, Mustafa Suleyman, the CEO of Microsoft AI, found his keynote speech interrupted by a passionate protest from one of the company's employees. Ibtihal Aboussad, a Microsoft worker, boldly called out to Suleyman, stating, “You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide.” This was a clear reference to Microsoft's controversial ties with Israel amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As Suleyman attempted to address the audience about Microsoft’s advancements in artificial intelligence, Aboussad's protest highlighted the growing concerns over the use of AI technologies in military applications. The CEO acknowledged her protest by saying, “I hear your protest, thank you,” before the protesting employee was escorted from the venue.

This disruption comes in the wake of alarming reports by The Associated Press, which indicated that AI models developed by Microsoft and OpenAI were incorporated into Israeli military programs aimed at identifying bombing targets during conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. These revelations have sparked widespread outrage and protests not only against Microsoft but also across various corporations and academic institutions linked to Israel, as calls for accountability grow louder amid graphic reports of the humanitarian crisis.

The violence in the region escalated dramatically in October 2023 when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals and the taking of approximately 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel commenced a severe military offensive in Gaza, leading to the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians and triggering accusations of genocide and war crimes—claims that the Israeli government vehemently denies. This assault has also resulted in massive internal displacement, affecting nearly the entire population of 2.3 million in Gaza and creating a dire hunger crisis.

Aboussad, after the event, sent an email to fellow Microsoft employees explaining her motivations behind the protest, which The Verge reported on. In her message, she expressed deep concern for the humanitarian situation and criticized the company's associations. Following the protest, both Aboussad and a fellow protesting employee reported losing access to their work accounts, raising questions about workplace freedoms and corporate governance.

In response to the protests, a Microsoft spokesperson stated that the company values providing a platform for all voices to be heard in ways that do not disrupt business operations. These incidents are part of a larger movement that indicates employees are increasingly willing to speak out against their employers’ ethical practices, particularly in politically sensitive contexts.