A University of Kentucky research administrator has become the first known humanist to receive a religious accommodation allowing him to avoid personally using artificial intelligence tools at work.
David Durman, 45, sought the exemption after the university began encouraging employees to use AI tools such as Microsoft Teams Copilot, Claude and ChatGPT in their daily work. As a humanist, Durman said people should do their own thinking and decision-making because that process is central to moral development and human flourishing. He argued that offloading those tasks to AI would undermine his ability to act as a moral person and treat others with dignity, according to Religion News Service.
With help from the American Humanist Association, he requested a religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the federal law that allows employees to seek changes to work requirements based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Federal courts have previously recognized humanism as qualifying for such protections.
The university’s Office of Equal Opportunity approved the request on Sept. 25 after determining the accommodation would not impose an undue burden on his department, according to the American Humanist Association. Durman can avoid personally using AI tools to complete his tasks, but he must still attend meetings and submit materials through platforms that use AI. The university has not required AI use in his role but has encouraged it, and Durman said he sought the accommodation preemptively in case it became mandatory.
Officials at the American Humanist Association said they believe this is the first case of a humanist receiving an AI-related workplace exemption. Durman told reporters he was inspired in part by a Unitarian Universalist software engineer who earlier received a similar accommodation from her employer.
A university spokesperson said the institution reviews religious accommodation requests individually and found one could be provided while allowing Durman to perform the essential functions of his job.
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