Hostile, anti-democratic work environment with indentured overtones: next-level strategies required.
cf. the CIA/OST manual from mid-20th C on sabotage and resistance under the risk of death.
Innocent seeming tactics like work-to-rule or demanding policy adherence whenever possible can slow foolish management. Talk to coworkers carefully. Document spectacular failures of management directives but innocently, as if you don’t know whose fault it is. Set things up so they will break later, when you are not around and without a trace.
Ask for reasons; the last paragraph of the article sums up that asking them to explain the insanity is effective. Remember: it is slow and cumulative effort required to change things, be patient and persistent and alert for opportunities and risks.
When I was young and A.I. was a science fiction topic, I was convinced that increasing efficiency in code and design would be a major benefit, doing more with less, the everyday magic of software disappearing into the walls and devices like magic gnomes.
I forgot about the ads.