Microsoft’s Build conference encountered protests over claims of military ties to Israel, specifically allegations about Azure’s use in Gaza operations. Activists from the No Azure for Apartheid campaign asserted that Azure technology aids military activities, calling for accountability from Microsoft.
The conference saw disruptions from Microsoft engineer Joe Lopez, who vocally challenged CEO Satya Nadella, followed by a Palestinian tech worker interrupting CoreAI’s Jay Parikh, emphasizing strong internal and external dissent regarding the ethical implications of Microsoft’s technology.
Despite protests, Microsoft emphasized its lack of evidence showing that its technologies harm civilians. The company plans to feature new AI models during the conference from partners like xAI and Meta, attempting to shift focus back to its advancements in technology.
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