The protest began on Friday as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was presenting product updates and a long-term vision for the company’s AI assistant product, Copilot, to an audience that included Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer. During the event, Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted the speech, shouting:
“Mustafa, shame on you,” shouted Ibtihal Aboussad. “You claim that you care about using AI for good but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.”
Suleyman paused and responded, saying, “Thank you for your protest, I hear you.” Aboussad continued her protest, claiming that Suleyman and Microsoft had blood on their hands. She threw a keffiyeh scarf, a symbol of support for Palestinians, onto the stage before being escorted out of the event.
An investigation by The Associated Press earlier this year revealed that AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI were used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing targets during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon. A second protester, Microsoft employee Vaniya Agrawal, also interrupted another part of the celebration when Gates, Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella were on stage—marking the first public gathering of the three since 2014.
This protest followed a similar incident in February, when five Microsoft employees were ejected from a meeting with Nadella for protesting against the company’s ties to the Israeli military. Friday’s protest, however, was more public, taking place during a livestreamed event showcasing the company’s past and future.
In addition to the protest within the event, some employees also rallied outside the venue. Microsoft released a statement addressing the protests, saying:
“We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard. Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate. We are committed to ensuring our business practices uphold the highest standards.”
Protests against companies with ties to Israel have become more widespread, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 50,609 Palestinians have died, with over 115,000 wounded in the ongoing conflict, while thousands are missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
The conflict, which erupted in October 2023 after Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel, has resulted in the deaths of at least 1,139 Israelis and the capture of more than 200 people. The situation remains dire as the conflict continues.