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Microsoft AI Security Head Reveals Walmart’s AI Plans Amid Protest
During a Build conference presentation, Neta Haiby, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) security chief, inadvertently disclosed private communications detailing Walmart’s integration of Microsoft’s AI tools. The incident occurred during a talk that was briefly interrupted by demonstrators.
Interrupted Presentation Leads to Accidental Disclosure
The Build livestream was temporarily halted as the camera was directed downward. The session then resumed after the protesters were removed. Following the disruption, Haiby unintentionally switched to Microsoft Teams while screen-sharing, exposing confidential internal messages concerning Walmart’s forthcoming adoption of Microsoft’s Entra and AI gateway services.
Details of the Security Breach
Haiby, along with Sarah Bird, Microsoft’s head of responsible AI, were co-hosting a Build session focused on AI security best practices when two former Microsoft employees disrupted the presentation. Their protest centered on the company’s cloud computing agreements with the Israeli government.
Protester’s Allegations
“Sarah, you are whitewashing the crimes of Microsoft in Palestine, how dare you talk about responsible AI when Microsoft is fueling the genocide in Palestine,” asserted Hossam Nasr, an organizer for the No Azure for Apartheid protest group and a former Microsoft employee. Nasr had previously been terminated for holding a vigil outside Microsoft’s headquarters to honor Palestinians killed in Gaza.
Walmart’s Embrace of Microsoft AI
Walmart, a significant corporate client of Microsoft, already utilizes the company’s Azure OpenAI service for various AI initiatives. Internal Teams messages revealed specifics about Walmart’s planned deployments:
- A Microsoft cloud solutions architect stated, “Walmart is ready to rock and roll with Entra Web and AI Gateway.”
- A Walmart AI engineer was quoted, “Microsoft is WAY ahead of Google with AI security. We are excited to go down this path with you.”
Microsoft’s Response
Despite requests for comment regarding the protest and the disclosure of Teams messages, Microsoft did not immediately respond.
Repeat Disrupters
Both protesters involved in the Build disruption were former Microsoft employees. Vaniya Agrawal accompanied Nasr. Agrawal also disrupted Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, former CEO Steve Ballmer, and current CEO Satya Nadella during the company’s 50th anniversary event last month. Agrawal was dismissed shortly after submitting her two weeks’ notice at Microsoft before the protest, according to an email.
Microsoft’s Internal Review of Azure Services
This latest demonstration follows Microsoft’s recent announcement of an internal investigation, conducted with an external firm, into the use of its technology in the Gaza conflict. Microsoft maintains that its relationship with Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) is structured as a standard commercial arrangement. The company stated, “We have found no evidence that Microsoft’s Azure and AI technologies, or any of our other software, have been used to harm people or that IMOD has failed to comply with our terms of service or our AI Code of Conduct.”