University of Kentucky Grants AI Exemption Based on Humanism
David Durman secured a religious accommodation from the University of Kentucky allowing him to avoid using artificial intelligence at work based on his humanist beliefs.
The University of Kentucky granted a religious accommodation on September 25, 2026, to research administrator David Durman, allowing him to avoid personally using artificial intelligence in his professional duties. Durman, a nontheistic humanist, submitted the formal request in August with assistance from the American Humanist Association. He argued that generative AI and large language models conflict with his beliefs regarding human agency and the responsibility for one's own decisions, claiming that outsourcing judgment to AI would diminish human dignity.
The university approved the exemption after determining that the accommodation would not impose an undue burden on Durman's department. While he is exempt from using the tools, he may still be required to attend AI-related meetings or collaborate with colleagues who utilize the technology. The American Humanist Association identifies Durman as the first known humanist in the United States to receive such an accommodation.
This case follows a similar exemption granted in May to Erin Maus, a Unitarian Universalist software engineer in North Carolina. Both instances demonstrate the application of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to nontheistic and ethical beliefs as workplaces increasingly adopt AI tools.
