Microsoft CEO defends Pentagon contract following employee outcry

Microsoft CEO defends Pentagon contract following employee outcry

5 years ago
Anonymous $Dftgs0JzgE

https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/25/18240300/microsoft-ceo-defends-pentagon-contract-ar-headsets-employee-outcry

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella defended the company’s multimillion-dollar contract with the Pentagon to supply augmented reality headsets in an interview with CNN Business today. Last week, dozens of employees publicly criticized that same contract and called for the company to end its ties with the US military.

On Friday, a group of about 50 Microsoft workers published a letter demanding that the company pull out of its nearly $480 million contract to supply as many as 100,000 HoloLens devices to the US military. The company beat out other competitors like Magic Leap last November, ultimately winning its bid to provide the Defense Department with the headsets. The Pentagon described the project as a method of increasing “lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy” through the use of AR. It is likely the US military would modify the headsets to be used by soldiers, with support from Microsoft.