Microsoft Employees Fired After AI Protest

Microsoft has terminated two employees, Ibtihal Aboussad and Vaniya Agrawal, who protested at the company's 50th anniversary celebration against its involvement in supplying AI technology to the Israeli military. Aboussad vocally criticized Microsoft's AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman during a livestreamed session, accusing the company of contributing to deaths in the region and throwing a keffiyeh onto the stage. Agrawal also protested during the event, and although she intended to resign later in the month, she was informed of her termination via email, while Aboussad was informed via video call. The protests have drawn attention to Microsoft's contracts with Israel, specifically regarding AI models allegedly used in military operations, as reported by the Associated Press. Microsoft has not commented on the terminations or the allegations made by the protesters.