Microsoft Employees Protest AI Contracts with Israeli Military

Five Microsoft employees were removed from a meeting with CEO Satya Nadella after protesting the company’s contracts to provide AI and cloud services to the Israeli military, Arab News reported. The demonstration occurred during a town hall at Microsoft’s Redmond campus, where workers displayed T-shirts that read, “Does Our Code Kill Kids, Satya?”

This protest followed an Associated Press investigation revealing that Microsoft and OpenAI’s AI models were used by the Israeli military for target selection in recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The report highlighted a tragic airstrike in 2023 that killed three young girls and their grandmother.

Microsoft stated it supports diverse voices but expects concerns to be raised without disrupting business. The company has not disclosed whether the protesting employees will face disciplinary action. Tensions have escalated within Microsoft over its involvement with the Israeli military, with some employees advocating for a reassessment of these contracts. Abdo Mohamed, a previously fired employee, criticized the company for prioritizing profits over human rights commitments.