Pro-Palestinian protester interrupts Microsoft AI CEO during event

A pro-Palestinian protester interrupted a live presentation by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, accusing the tech company of selling AI technology to Israel.

A pro-Palestinian protester interrupted a presentation by Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman on Friday, accusing the tech company of selling artificial intelligence technology to Israeli military forces.  

In a video of the presentation, the protester can be heard shouting, “You claim that you care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died ... all of Microsoft has blood on its hands. How do you all celebrate when Microsoft is killing children? Shame on you all.”  

Suleyman responded to the protester saying, “Thank you, I hear your protest.” The protester responded to Suleyman, saying, “You do not hear us.” A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed in a statement to NBC News that the protester was removed after the incident.  

“We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard,” the spokesperson wrote. “Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate. We are committed to ensuring our business practices uphold the highest standards.” 

The interruption came in the middle of Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Copilot Event at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. During the presentation, Suleyman was introducing new capabilities of the company’s AI service, Copilot. A video livestreaming the event on YouTube was made private after videos of the protester began circulating online.