“The moment they’re going to stop being complicit in genocide is when we make it too expensive for them to continue being complicit.”
— Ibtihal Aboussad, Out Loud podcast
In this unmissable episode of Out Loud with Ahmed Eldin, Ibtihal unpacks her journey from coding “for good” in Morocco’s tech‑for‑development initiatives to confronting the harsh reality at the heart of Big Tech’s profit machine. She speaks candidly about:
Colonial legacies and code: How growing up in Morocco instilled in her a history of resistance, and why she believed technology could serve the oppressed, until it didn’t.
The whistleblower’s awakening: The day she realized that speech‑to‑text and cloud services she developed were fueling military operations.
“Shame on you” at the AI summit: What drove her to interrupt Microsoft’s top brass in front of Bill Gates and Satya Nadella, and why that explosive moment rippled from Seattle to student protests in London and Casablanca.
A blueprint for tech workers: Why every line of code you write in Big Tech is a choice—and how you can join the fight to make complicity untenable.
Ibtihal’s story is more than a tech‑industry exposé; it’s a call to arms. She shows us that real power lies not just in boardrooms, but in the collective pressure of people refusing to stay silent. Whether you’re a coder, an investor, or someone who clicks “Accept Cookies” without a second thought, this conversation will stir something in you—and it might just change how you see your own role in global injustice.
Timestamps
00:00 - Highlights
00:59 - Introduction
01:53 - Where did you grow up?
03:10 - Have you had any similar experience like standing clear of the right things?
05:08 - What Drew you to AI?
08:36 - How has that reality of your life shaped your lens when it comes to power, identity, and belonging?
10:25 - Do you have a sense of belonging?
13:09 - Do you have an emotional encounter with Palestine?
15:16 - Microsoft's role in enabling the Israeli military.
19:13 - Do you consider yourself a whistle-blower?
20:22 - What gave you courage the event with the AI CEO?
23:37 - Is there something people would be surprised to know about the reactions?
26:59 - When the students chanted Ibtihaj, you make us proud what did you feel?
33:48 - What would you say to colleagues who feel uncomfortable, but are still there?
36:29 - Are you encouraged by the growth of this movement?
38:03 - Quick Questions
SUBSCRIBE ON SUBSTACK for bonus content
🔔 Don’t forget to follow the podcast and share this episode with anyone who believes tech should serve humanity, not harm it.
