"Should Our Software Contribute to Harming Children?": Microsoft Staff Members Voice Concerns over Providing AI to Israel
Microsoft booted five staffers from a town hall event recently, as they staged a protest against the company's military contracts with Israel. These contracts involve supplying the Israeli military with artificial intelligence (AI) technology to aid in their battles in Gaza and Lebanon. The protestors, dressed in shirts spelling out the CEO's name and asking, "Does our code kill kids?", were quietly escorted away by security, with Microsoft stating they offer various avenues for employees to voice their concerns while avoiding business disruptions.
Reports by the Associated Press and Drop Site News suggest that Microsoft's involvement may indeed result in harm. The tech giant holds a $133 million contract with the Israeli military, granting them access to OpenAI models through Azure. These models are then employed to pinpoint locations for airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon. While humans still make the final decision to strike, civilian casualties have been documented in these areas.
The protest movement, No Azure for Apartheid, is vocal about Microsoft's profit from the Gaza conflict. They claim the Israeli military is the company's second-largest military customer after the US, and they publish demands such as ending Azure contracts with the Israeli military, disclosing ties, calling for a ceasefire, protecting employees, and upholding free speech. Employees who spoke out about these issues were terminated by Microsoft in 2023.
The pain inflicted on Gaza by AI isn't the only instance. Following a town hall protest, former President Trump posted an offensive AI-generated video on Truth Social, depicting a Gaza makeover. The video, created using AI, is highly controversial, with concerns about the misuse of AI for propaganda.
Has AI entered the realm of weaponry without considering its consequences? This is a question Microsoft, and other tech giants, need to consider as they navigate the intersection of technology and conflict.
- Nadella and Microsoft have faced criticism from the No Azure for Apartheid movement, urging them to discontinue their Azure contracts with the Israeli military, which they view as the company's second-largest military customer after the US.
- Microsoft's future involvement in military tech, such as supplying AI technology for airstrike location assistance, has raised concerns about potential civilian harm and the role of tech companies in geopolitical conflicts.
- The terminations of employees who spoke out against Microsoft's military contracts in 2023 added fuel to the protests, implying that the tech giant may be stifling free speech to protect its business interests.
- With reports of civilian casualties resulting from AI-assisted airstrikes in regions like Gaza and Lebanon, there's a growing expectation for tech companies like Microsoft to exercise greater transparency and take a more ethical approach in their partnerships with military organizations.
