Amazon's shift to a five-day in-office work schedule aims to enhance collaboration and innovation, especially in the competitive AI sector, but faces employee resistance over work-life balance concerns. Announced by AWS CEO Matt Garman, the policy underscores Amazon's belief in physical proximity to drive innovation, despite potential talent attrition to more flexible competitors. As Amazon invests heavily in AI to catch up with rivals, balancing in-office collaboration with employee flexibility remains crucial for maintaining morale and productivity.