University Staffer Secures Workplace AI Exemption Under Humanist Beliefs
A University of Kentucky administrator has obtained a workplace exemption from using AI, citing non-theistic Humanist convictions regarding human flourishing and critical thinking.
Workplace exemptions from artificial intelligence are no longer confined to traditional theology. David Durman, an administrator at the University of Kentucky who identifies as a nontheistic Humanist, has successfully obtained a religious accommodation excusing him from using AI tools in his daily job duties. The decision highlights how broader philosophical and ethical convictions are intersecting with rapid workplace automation.
Durman, who assists academic researchers with grant applications, reached out to the American Humanist Association (AHA) to explore legal protections after noticing the rising integration of generative tools in professional environments. Humanism focuses on human flourishing and welfare through rational and scientific frameworks rather than theistic belief systems. According to Durman, relying on artificial intelligence compromises human moral agency, which relies directly on the active engagement of the human mind.
Ethical concerns and secular legal protections
While religious critiques of automated systems have gained visibility—including statements from Pope Leo XIV cautioning against AI's risks to human dignity—legal protections under employment law also extend beyond traditional deities. The AHA, an organization advocating for secular humanism, confirmed that Durman is the first Humanist to establish workplace protections to abstain from using AI systems.
Alexandria Huiskens, a staff attorney at the AHA, stated that legal safeguards cover individuals whose convictions align with nontheistic frameworks just as they do members of established faiths. Huiskens explained that ethical questions regarding AI and human dignity appear across multiple perspectives, from Catholic teachings and Unitarian Universalism to Humanism.
Durman was initially motivated to pursue an accommodation after learning about Erin Maus, a Unitarian Universalist software engineer who had previously secured protections allowing her to avoid using AI tools. In a public statement issued via the AHA, Durman outlined several core objections, pointing to environmental impacts, threats to creative cultural traditions, and risks to workers' livelihoods. He emphasized that outsourcing reasoning risks diminishing critical thinking abilities.
Proactive policies at the University of Kentucky
At the University of Kentucky, AI had not yet been formally required for Durman's specific administrative position, though institutional leadership and peers had suggested experimenting with the technology. Durman chose to file for an accommodation early to avoid potential mandatory usage rules later on.
University spokesperson Jay Blanton explained that the institution assesses religious accommodation requests on a case-by-case basis. In reviewing Durman’s duties, the university determined that exempting him from AI adoption would not prevent him from completing the fundamental duties required by his role. Blanton added that the university may periodically reassess accommodations as job responsibilities and workplace technology shift over time.
What it means for developers
For engineering teams and technical leadership, this case underlines that AI adoption cannot always be treated as a universal, one-size-fits-all mandate. Although software engineering has seen widespread integration of automated code generation, the precedent set by Erin Maus demonstrates that even technical roles can be subject to conscientious or philosophical opt-outs.
Engineering managers must consider how compulsory tooling policies align with employee accommodations, especially when automated systems are embedded into development pipelines, documentation workflows, or code reviews. Designing modular software processes allows organizations to accommodate non-participating staff while continuing to adopt advanced technologies across the rest of the team.
For developers and teams who do choose to leverage automated workflows, testing and benchmarking different systems remains an essential step. Platforms like https://apixoai.online provide cheap pay-per-token API access to models such as Claude, GPT, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek through a single key, enabling teams to evaluate which tools match their technical and organizational standards.
Source: You don’t need to believe in a god to get a religious exemption from using AI at work — TechCrunch AI. Written by the Apixo team from that report.
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