Microsoft's annual developer conference, Build 2025, has been marked by a series of protests highlighting internal dissent over the company's involvement with the Israeli military. The most notable disruption occurred when former Microsoft engineer Vaniya Agrawal interrupted a session on AI security, voicing strong opposition to the company's cloud contracts with the Israeli government.
Agrawal, who had previously disrupted Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration in April, confronted Neta Haiby, Head of Security for AI, and Sarah Bird, Head of Responsible AI, during their presentation. She accused Microsoft of complicity in civilian deaths in Gaza, stating, "50,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been murdered with Microsoft technology." This protest was the third consecutive day of unrest at Build 2025, following similar disruptions during CEO Satya Nadella's keynote and an Azure AI presentation.
Microsoft has not publicly commented on these protests or the subsequent dismissals of employees involved. However, these events underscore growing internal concerns about the company's role in supplying cloud infrastructure to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Reports indicate that Microsoft's Azure platform and AI technologies have been utilized by the Israeli military, raising ethical questions about the use of commercial AI in warfare.
The protests at Build 2025 reflect a broader trend of tech workers advocating for ethical considerations in corporate partnerships, particularly those involving military applications. As Microsoft continues to expand its AI and cloud services, addressing these internal and external concerns will be crucial for maintaining employee trust and public credibility.
Source: Moneycontrol https://www.moneycontrol.com/techno...test-at-microsoft-build-article-13040422.html
