Sat Apr 05 05:43:45 UTC 2025: ## Microsoft Employee Disrupts Anniversary Event, Accuses Company of “AI Genocide”
**Redmond, WA –** Microsoft’s 50th-anniversary celebration was interrupted Friday by an employee who accused the tech giant of complicity in war crimes through its artificial intelligence technology. Ibtihal Aboussad, a Microsoft employee, publicly confronted AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman during his presentation, shouting, “You are a war profiteer. Stop using AI for genocide.”
Aboussad’s protest stemmed from an Associated Press investigation earlier this year revealing that AI models developed by Microsoft and OpenAI were used by the Israeli military to select bombing targets in Gaza and Lebanon. This revelation comes amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza following Israel’s military assault, which has resulted in the deaths of over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gazan health officials. Israel denies accusations of genocide and war crimes.
Suleyman acknowledged Aboussad’s protest before security escorted her from the event. Microsoft issued a statement claiming to provide various channels for employee voices, but Aboussad alleges that she and a colleague lost access to their work accounts following the protest, according to the Associated Press. In an email to fellow employees, Aboussad further detailed her reasoning for the disruption.
The incident highlights the growing ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in military applications and adds to the ongoing wave of protests against companies and institutions with ties to Israel, fueled by the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack in October 2023, has resulted in a massive loss of life and widespread displacement.
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