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Corporate America’s tone has hardened as layoffs rise and AI reshapes work, with more bosses telling staff to conform or leave. Palantir’s Alex Karp touted an 'anti-woke' stance and attacked multiculturalism; AT&T’s John Stankey curtailed remote work; GitHub’s chief warned to embrace AI or exit; Shopify and Coinbase imposed AI requirements. Scholars say leaders feel newly empowered as peers face few consequences, though some executives stay quiet amid polarization. Experts add the pendulum may swing back if the economy turns.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.