Workers do not need to believe in a god to receive a religious exemption from using AI at work.

Meta description: University of Kentucky administrator David Durman secured a workplace AI exemption grounded in nontheistic Humanist beliefs, joining a debate about dignity.

Tags: AI workplace exemption, humanist accommodation, University of Kentucky, American Humanist Association, religious accommodation

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A University of Kentucky administrator has recently secured an AI workplace exemption, a religious exemption from using AI in the workplace that allows a nontheistic Humanist to abstain from artificial intelligence tools at work. David Durman, a University of Kentucky administrator, told TechCrunch that his Humanist beliefs led him to seek protection from a workplace culture increasingly shaped by AI tools. The case follows Pope Leo XIV's criticism of AI as a threat to human dignity, but it shows that the concern is not limited to religious believers.

A public debate moves beyond religious believers

Pope Leo XIV has called AI a threat to human dignity, putting the technology inside a moral discussion about human worth. Durman's case shows that this discussion is not only for religious believers. He described Humanism as a set of beliefs about the human experience and how people relate to the world. It focuses on human well-being and flourishing, for individuals and communities, and urges people to improve their own flourishing and the flourishing of others.

As AI entered daily life, Durman turned to the American Humanist Association (AHA), a nonprofit advancing secular humanism, to explore legal protections against being required to use AI at work. He said he believes using the technology runs against his beliefs.

Why the request was made

Durman said people become moral actors for themselves and others by using their minds actively, and that AI overreliance could reduce that ability and weaken critical thinking. In a statement published by the AHA earlier this week, he framed the issue in broader terms.

"AI is interfering with people's ability to earn a living, the environmental costs spell disaster for humanity and our planet, and its supplanting and theft of human creativity threaten elements of our culture like art and literature that make society flourish," he wrote.

Humanism does not oppose religion, but it often attracts people who doubt a god or supernatural power while still wanting a scientific and moral framework. Alexandria Huiskens, Staff Attorney at the AHA, told TechCrunch that concern about AI and human dignity can run through several faiths and traditions, including Catholic teachings, Universalism, and Humanism. She said Humanists and nontheists should know they can also be protected at work.

A first for Humanist workplace accommodations

Durman is the first Humanist to secure workplace accommodations that allow him to abstain from AI use, and one of the first people to publicly discuss his pursuit of these protections. He said he was inspired after reading that Erin Maus, a Unitarian Universalist and software engineer, secured similar protections for herself.

"For me, this was about me and my convictions," Durman said. "I'm obviously not trying to tell people how to think or feel… But I do hope that it encourages people who have similar concerns to pursue not necessarily religious exemption, but pursue their concerns to the best of their ability where they feel is the most appropriate."

Maus' situation is especially unusual because it has become rare for software engineers to write code without any AI assistance. Durman's role is different: he supports researchers applying for grants and has not been required to use AI at work. Still, some colleagues and leadership have recommended that employees try out these tools, so he sought the exemption now, in case a recommendation becomes a mandate later.

University review and what comes next

University of Kentucky spokesperson Jay Blanton told TechCrunch that the institution reviews requests for religious accommodations on an individual basis, considering the employee's job responsibilities and the circumstances of the request. "In this case, the university determined that an accommodation could be provided while allowing the employee to continue performing the essential functions of their position," Blanton said in a statement.

"As technology and job responsibilities evolve, accommodations may be reviewed to ensure they remain reasonable and workable," Blanton said.

Durman said he hoped others with similar feelings would feel encouraged to pursue some kind of resolution. The case now marks a stage where one Humanist employee has a confirmed exemption, while the broader workplace question remains open: what happens when colleagues' recommendations turn into requirements, and whether more employees will seek similar relief as technology and job responsibilities evolve.