During Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration, the keynote was interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protester criticizing the company's AI technology being used by the Israeli military. The protest highlighted allegations of Microsoft enabling a military program responsible for numerous civilian casualties in recent conflicts. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman acknowledged the protester's concerns. In the past, Microsoft faced internal backlash regarding military contracts, and the company issued a statement on promoting all voices but emphasized the importance of business stability while declining to comment on additional actions.
"Mustafa, shame on you," shouted a woman in the audience. "You claim that you care about using AI for good but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military."
An investigation by The Associated Press revealed earlier this year that AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI had been used as part of an Israeli military program to select bombing targets during the recent wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
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