During Microsoft's 50th anniversary celebration in April 2025, the event was unexpectedly disrupted by internal protests, highlighting a growing tension between the company's technological advancements and ethical considerations.

The protests began when Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was presenting product updates and a long-term vision for the company's AI assistant product, Copilot, to an audience that included Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer. Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad interrupted the presentation, accusing the company of enabling violence in the Middle East and condemning its AI contracts with Israel. She was escorted out after throwing a keffiyeh scarf onto the stage. Another employee, Vaniya Agrawal, disrupted a segment featuring Gates, Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella.

The protest follows an Associated Press investigation revealing that AI from Microsoft and OpenAI had supported Israeli military operations, including a misdirected airstrike that killed civilians.

In response to the disruptions, Microsoft emphasized its commitment to allowing voices to be heard without disrupting business. However, both protesters reported losing access to their work accounts, indicating possible termination.

This incident reflects growing internal dissent at Microsoft over its involvement in global military conflicts, especially in Gaza, where over 50,000 Palestinians are estimated to have died since October 2023.

The events at Microsoft's anniversary celebration underscore the complex interplay between technological innovation, corporate ethics, and geopolitical conflicts, raising important questions about the role of tech companies in military applications and the avenues available for employees to voice ethical concerns.