Microsoft is a major provider of cloud services and artificial intelligence for the Israeli military, according to internal documents related to the contracts between the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Microsoft Israel obtained by Drop Site News. The leaked documents show that Israel’s usage spiked dramatically in the months following October 7, 2023 when Israel was using AI and other technology to wage its brutal war on Gaza.

The trove of documents reveals that Microsoft’s ties to the Israeli military are deeper and more lucrative than previously known, exposing the tech giant’s role in supplying advanced cloud and AI services during the war that multiple international bodies, including the International Court of Justice, ruled may plausibly constitute a genocide.

Leaked data show a dramatic spike in Microsoft cloud storage used by the Israeli military, jumping more than 155 percent between June 2023 and April 2024, and peaking just before the Rafah offensive in May 2024. Storage use is an important indicator showing the extent of AI usage, since storage usually grows along with the usage of other cloud products.

  • Jestzer@lemmy.world
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    11 hours ago

    I use Linux daily for work and gaming. Honestly, it’s not there yet for gaming. The closest you’ll get to “it just works” is with the Steam Deck, and even then, modding is not as straightforward most of the time. Very few things, gaming-wise, are easier than Windows and I would’ve struggled had I not already known my way around Linux, thanks to work.

    • in4apenny@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      10 hours ago

      Wow thank you for the incredibly balanced argument. I really want to switch to Linux for all the obvious reasons, but it’s the same cliche reason why I don’t - I’m too much of a bitch-dude to make such a big change to something I use and operate on the daily without certainty. But as i’ve said, the moment say Valve come out with a SteamOS for desktop which is basically Windows through and through minus the bloatware and corruption (that isn’t to say Valve isn’t corrupt but they’re not making weapons for Israel) is the day I switch with no qualms. Like many I’m far too used to the interface and compatability of Windows still.

      • Jestzer@lemmy.world
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        10 hours ago

        You’re most welcome. I completely understand your situation and is why I don’t constantly tell others to switch. I’m very happy using Linux, but I had to do a lot of learning to get here. I know it’s not realistic for everybody to have the motivation to make the move.

        Keep in mind, SteamOS is going to be smooth for gaming, but possibly challenging for other things. Modding will still have some challenges to it and anything that isn’t gaming might not be so easy too. If you plan to use SteamOS when it comes out, the closest experience to it is Bazzite OS with KDE Plasma. If you’re curious enough, setup it up in a VM and try to get your non-gaming software working.