Walmart AI details leaked during Microsoft Build conference
Protesters interrupted the Microsoft Build session on best security practices and Haiby switched her screen share amid the ruckus, showing that Walmart, one of Microsoft's most significant customers, was "ready to ROCK AND ROLL with [Microsoft's] Entra Web and Al Gateway."
The message, posted by Leigh Samons, a principal cloud solution architect at Microsoft, detailed the process for how Microsoft would go about integrating its technology into Walmart's processes.
It also said that one of Walmart's tools needed extra safeguards.
"MyAssistant is one they build that is overly powerful and needs guardrails," the message said, referencing a tool Walmart created and built last summer that "leverages a unique build of Walmart proprietary data, technology and large language models in Azure OpenAI Service," according to a January press release.
The tool helps store associates summarize long documents, create new marketing content and more, per the release.
The internal Teams message also cited a "distinguished" AI engineer at Walmart as saying, "Microsoft is WAY ahead of Google with Al Security. We are excited to go down this path with you."
The Verge was first to report on the AI plans. CNBC has reached out to Microsoft and Walmart for comment.
The protest singled out Sarah Bird, Microsoft's head of responsible AI who was part of the Build panel with Haiby. Haiby herself was formerly a member of the Israeli Defense Forces, according to a years-old Tumblr page viewed by CNBC.
Haiby did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"Sarah Bird, you are whitewashing the crimes of Microsoft in Palestine," Hossam Nasr, an organizer with the group No Azure for Apartheid, said, continuing, "How dare you talk about..." before the livestream audio was muted.
Nasr was one of the Microsoft employees terminated last year after planning a vigil for Palestinians killed in Gaza.
The protest and the reveal of Walmart's AI plans followed another disruption earlier that day at Microsoft's Build developer conference in Seattle when an unnamed Palestinian tech worker disrupted a speech by Jay Parikh, Microsoft's head of CoreAI.
"Jay, you are complicit in the genocide in Gaza," the tech worker, who did not wish to share his name for fear of retaliation, said. "My people are suffering because of you. How dare you. How dare you talk about AI when my people are suffering. Cut ties with Israel."
He then called to "free Palestine" and said, "No Azure for apartheid," a nod to the group and its petition.
On Monday, Microsoft software engineer Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's keynote speech onstage, saying, "Satya, how about you show them how Microsoft is killing Palestinians? How about you show them how Israeli war crimes are powered by Azure?"
The recent disruptions are part of a mounting string of protests at Microsoft events over the Israeli military's use of the company's AI products.
At Microsoft's 50th anniversary event last month, two Microsoft software engineers publicly protested during executive presentations. The roles of both employees were terminated soon after, according to documents viewed by CNBC.
At the April event, Ibtihal Aboussad, then a software engineer in the company's AI division, interrupted Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman's speech.
"Mustafa, shame on you," Aboussad said as she walked toward the stage at the event in Redmond, Washington. "You claim that you care for using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty thousand people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region."
"You have blood on your hands," she said before being swiftly escorted out. "All of Microsoft has blood on its hands."
Although the Microsoft protests centered on the Israeli military's use of its technology, AI companies in recent months have been walking back bans on broader military use of their products and entering into deals with defense industry giants and the Defense Department.
In November, Anthropic and defense contractor Palantir announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services to provide U.S. intelligence and defense agencies access to Anthropic's Claude AI models. Palantir recently signed a new five-year deal worth up to $100 million to expand U.S. military access to its Maven AI warfare program.
OpenAI and Anduril announced a partnership allowing the defense tech company to deploy advanced AI systems for "national security missions." And last month, Scale AI forged a deal with the Department of Defense for a multimillion-dollar flagship AI agent program.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
17 minutes ago
- CNBC
The curious bond counter rally: Here's what to know
CNBC's Steve Liesman joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the bond rally and presidential pressure on Fed Chair Powell.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Will Stablecoins Help Retailers Break The Visa–Mastercard Duopoly?
BATH, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 04: In this photo illustration the Visa, Mastercard and American ... More Express logo on various credit cards and debit cards are seen beside US one dollar bills on January 4, 2025 in Somerset, England. (Photo Illustration by) Could stablecoins truly transform the way consumers make purchases? It is starting to appear that way. Stablecoins are coming forward as one of the most plausible crypto applications for real-world transactions, and several of the largest retailers globally, including Walmart (NYSE:WMT), are taking note. While credit and debit cards provide convenience and rewards for consumers, they also carry significant interchange fees for merchants – generally around 2% – and settlement periods that can extend over a few days. In contrast, stablecoins offer near-instantaneous settlement, reduced transaction expenses, and enhanced control over the payment experience. This positions them as a direct competitor to Visa (NYSE:V) and Mastercard's (NYSE:MA) fundamental business model. What Are Stablecoins? Stablecoins are a form of cryptocurrency created to maintain a stable value relative to government-issued currencies, like the U.S. dollar. Essentially, they bring the dollar onto the blockchain, merging the stability of a fiat currency with the speed, transparency, and programmability that cryptocurrencies provide. Stablecoins aren't simply a digital cash substitute. They are increasingly being positioned as a payment method, particularly after the recent approval of the new U.S. Stablecoin bill in the Senate last month. This legislation establishes guidelines for stablecoin issuance, including full reserve backing, mandatory monthly audits, and compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. These initiatives are anticipated to validate the asset class and encourage widespread acceptance. related: Are Stablecoins A Real Threat to Visa and Mastercard Stock? How Will Retailers Use Stablecoins? In theory, large retailers could either create their own dollar-backed stablecoins or utilize popular ones like USDC, establishing closed-loop ecosystems similar to in-store credit systems, yet supported by blockchain technology. For instance, customers might fund or receive cashback in these retailer-issued tokens. Merchants would gain from immediate settlement, decreased dependence on intermediaries, and significant savings on interchange fees. These fees have historically been a point of conflict between retailers and card networks. Even if stablecoins are not widely adopted, they could act as a leverage point for retailers when negotiating with Visa and Mastercard to lower fees and enhance terms. Additionally, stablecoins could facilitate programmable rewards and adaptable discounts. For example, a retailer might automatically provide a specific cashback in tokens for repeat purchases or kick off limited-time discounts based on wallet transactions. Some initial actions are already evident. For instance, Shopify now enables merchants to accept stablecoins through integrations with Coinbase and Stripe. Reports indicate that Walmart and Amazon are considering launching their own dollar-backed stablecoins. Will Customers Embrace Stablecoin? Yet, adoption will not occur without challenges. Cards remain the top choice for most consumers. They are omnipresent, user-friendly, integrated with the existing banking system, and provide strong fraud protections and rewards. Meanwhile, utilizing stablecoins might necessitate customers to establish a separate crypto wallet, which could add additional steps to the checkout process. This could increase friction, making it a tough sell for many shoppers. Furthermore, the principal advantages of stablecoins, namely speed and cost, will primarily benefit merchants rather than consumers. Retailers have previously attempted to shift away from cards with limited success. For example, pay-by-bank solutions, enabling customers to pay merchants directly from their bank accounts, have struggled to gain momentum in the U.S., even with cost advantages. Stablecoins could encounter similar obstacles. Moreover, Visa and Mastercard are investigating their own innovations in the stablecoin sector. Visa has already trialed settling transactions in USDC, and both networks are looking for methods to modernize cross-border payments utilizing blockchain-based solutions. In summary, these companies are aiming to position themselves as key players in stablecoin infrastructure, actively integrating them into their networks. Worried about the long-term outlook for Visa and Mastercard stock in an increasingly competitive payments landscape? As an alternative, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, featuring a collection of 30 stocks, has a history of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the last 4-year period. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks have delivered superior returns with less risk compared to the benchmark index; providing less volatile performance, as seen in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Investing in AI-Fueled Nuclear Resurgence
(1:00) - President Trump's Recent Executive Order on Nuclear Power (8:05) - Big Tech's Push into Nuclear Energy (14:30) - Supply and Demand for Uranium and the Long-Term Impact (32:50) - Episode Roundup: NUKZ, NLR, URAN, URNM, URA Podcast@ In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I speak with Tim Rotolo, Founder and CEO of Range Fund Holdings, about investing in the nuclear renaissance, which is being driven primarily by the artificial intelligence boom. President Trump's recent executive orders on nuclear power outline a sweeping agenda to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050 and prioritize American leadership in nuclear technology globally. The renewed interest in nuclear energy is largely fueled by Big Tech's push into the sector, as AI data centers require massive amounts of energy. To meet their sustainability goals, many tech giants are increasingly exploring nuclear energy as a solution. Companies like Microsoft MSFT, Amazon AMZN, Google GOOGL, and Meta META are investing heavily in nuclear power projects, including small modular reactor (SMR) development and the revitalization of existing nuclear plants. They are also entering into long-term agreements for nuclear power. Building nuclear power plants is notoriously expensive and time-consuming. That's why there is growing interest in SMRs, which are typically manufactured in factories and can reduce construction time and costs. When will we start seeing SMRs more widely adopted? Nuclear fusion is often called the "holy grail" of energy because it promises a virtually limitless, clean, and safe source of power by replicating the process that fuels the stars. However, no one has yet made fusion power commercially viable. The Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF NUKZ holds companies in the nuclear fuel and energy industry. Cameco CCJ, Constellation Energy Corporation CEG, and Oklo OKLO are among its top holdings. Investors might also consider the Global X Uranium ETF URA, VanEck Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF NLR, and Sprott Uranium Miners ETF URNM. Tune in to the podcast to learn more. Make sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of ETF Spotlight! If you have any comments or questions, please email podcast@ Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cameco Corporation (CCJ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF (NLR): ETF Research Reports Global X Uranium ETF (URA): ETF Research Reports Sprott Uranium Miners ETF (URNM): ETF Research Reports Meta Platforms, Inc. (META) : Free Stock Analysis Report Range Nuclear Renaissance Index ETF (NUKZ): ETF Research Reports Oklo Inc. (OKLO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
