Man Granted Religious Exemption Against Using AI at Work

University of Kentucky administrator David Durman was recently granted a religious exemption from using AI at work, citing his humanist beliefs as the reason. Humanism, although not an organized religion, is recognized under federal law as a religion and qualifies for protection under Title VII, which prohibits workplace discrimination and allows employees to seek "religious accommodation."

With the assistance of the American Humanist Association (AHA), Durman submitted his request and was granted the exemption in September.

David Durman argues that utilizing AI to offload cognitive tasks contradicts his role as a "moral actor." He feels that outsourcing critical thinking processes to chatbots undermines his ability to develop himself as a moral person, as the act of thinking through situations and ethical dilemmas is vital to his personal growth. He expressed his concerns to Religion News Service, stating that offloading labor, even if it's not taxing, still diminishes his capacity to be a moral actor.

This exemption is not an isolated case, as a software engineer named Erin Maus, who identifies as a Unitarian Universalist, was also granted a religious exemption from using AI at work this summer. Maus claimed that ethical and environmental concerns raised by AI conflicted with her religious beliefs. Both exemptions come as religious leaders worldwide, notably Pope Leo, grapple with the implications of AI on their faith.

In his application for the exemption, Durman wrote that substituting automated machine processing for human presence, authentic listening, and personal responsibility directly conflicts with his obligation to uphold human dignity and flourishing as primary. Humanism, while not an organized religion, does qualify as a religion under federal statutes.

The AHA noted that to their knowledge, Durman is the first humanist to be granted an exemption related to AI use. AHA attorney Alexandria Huiskens highlighted that this exemption represents the first of its kind for humanism and emphasizes that humanism is a comprehensive way of life built on inherent worth and dignity. She stated that everyone should have the opportunity to exercise this comprehensive way of life at work, just as Christians or Muslims do.