At Microsoft's recent Build developer conference in Seattle, significant employee protests have brought to light the ethical concerns surrounding the company's involvement in supplying artificial intelligence (AI) technology to military operations, particularly those of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

During the conference, software engineer Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's keynote address to protest Microsoft's provision of AI services to the Israeli military amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Lopez's actions were part of a series of demonstrations by employees and external activists, both inside the venue and outside, expressing dissent over the company's military contracts. Following the protest, Lopez was terminated from his position at Microsoft. The advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid, comprising current and former employees, reported that Lopez received a termination notice he could not access and claimed Microsoft blocked internal communication using words like "Palestine" and "Gaza." Microsoft has not responded to media inquiries regarding its handling of the protests.

This incident is not isolated. In April 2025, during Microsoft's 50th anniversary event, employee Ibtihal Aboussad publicly confronted AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, accusing the company of complicity in violence through its AI contracts with the Israeli military. Aboussad's protest highlighted internal concerns about the ethical implications of Microsoft's technology being used in military operations.

The protests have garnered support from prominent figures, including musician Brian Eno, who composed the Windows 95 startup sound. Eno has publicly urged Microsoft to sever ties with the Israeli government, stating that by enabling the regime’s actions—deemed genocidal by various international experts and organizations—the company becomes complicit in potential war crimes. He condemned Microsoft's lack of oversight regarding the end use of its technologies, calling such involvement a moral failure.

Microsoft's involvement in military contracts has been a point of contention for several years. In 2019, employees protested a $480 million contract to supply the U.S. Army with augmented reality headsets, expressing concerns over the technology being used to "increase lethality." Despite these protests, Microsoft has maintained its stance on supporting military contracts, emphasizing the importance of engaging in public debates about the responsible use of technology.

The recent protests underscore a growing tension between Microsoft's business engagements and employee activism, raising critical questions about corporate responsibility and the ethical deployment of AI in military contexts.