Microsoft birthday celebration interrupted by employees protesting use of AI by Israeli military

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft faces internal protests regarding its AI products being used by the Israeli military, raising ethical concerns about the company's involvement in military applications and human rights violations [1][2][3][5]. Group 1: Internal Protests - A software engineer, Ibtihal Aboussad, interrupted Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event, accusing the company of enabling genocide through its AI products sold to the Israeli military, claiming that 50,000 people have died as a result [1][2]. - Aboussad expressed her moral obligation to speak out after witnessing the suppression of dissent within the company, stating that employees from the Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim communities have faced intimidation and harassment [5]. - Another engineer, Vaniya Agrawal, also protested during a separate event, declaring her resignation and labeling Microsoft as complicit in the military-industrial complex [9][10]. Group 2: Ethical Concerns and Company Actions - Aboussad highlighted that she was unaware her work would contribute to military applications, emphasizing that she did not intend to violate human rights [8]. - Agrawal described Microsoft as a "digital weapons manufacturer" and called for collective accountability among employees, asserting that all workers contribute to the system, regardless of their direct involvement with AI [11]. - The protests come amid a trend where AI companies are increasingly collaborating with defense contractors and military agencies, raising questions about the ethical implications of such partnerships [6][7].