University of Kentucky Grants AI Religious Exemption
A research administrator received a religious accommodation from using artificial intelligence at work, citing humanist beliefs.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Would you want a religious or personal exemption from using AI at work?
The University of Kentucky granted research administrator David Durman a religious exemption from using artificial intelligence at work. Durman applied under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act, and the university determined he could still perform his duties without AI.
Why it matters
The decision reflects how workplace religious accommodation law may apply to objections to emerging technology. A similar exemption was granted earlier in 2026 to a North Carolina software engineer.
A Gallup poll over the summer found 52% of U.S. workers use AI to do their jobs, a benchmark against which the exemption request stands out. Durman has been a humanist for roughly 30 years, and it is not stated how many other employees have requested similar exemptions.
The players
University of Kentucky
A public research university in Lexington, Kentucky, whose administration reviews employee religious accommodation requests on an individual basis.
American Humanist Association
A nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes humanism and supported Durman's application for the exemption.
The details
Durman applied through the American Humanist Association, citing concerns that AI may limit human thinking, that data centers harm the environment, and that AI training uses creative works without artists' explicit permission. The university granted the exemption on the basis that it placed no undue burden on the institution, while noting its Information Technology Services recommends Microsoft Copilot for staff and students using AI tools.
Timeline
Early 1960s: Supreme Court's Torcaso v. Watkins ruling recognized humanism as a religion.
Past 30 years: Durman has identified as a humanist.
Earlier in 2026: A North Carolina Unitarian Universalist software engineer received a similar AI religious exemption.
Big Picture
The case builds on the Supreme Court's Torcaso v. Watkins ruling, which established humanism's recognition as a religion in the early 1960s. It extends that recognition into workplace disputes over artificial intelligence, a context the ruling did not address.
Workers who object to AI on religious grounds may now have a documented path to request accommodation at public universities, though each request is reviewed individually. Employees who rely on AI tools for daily tasks should expect institutional policies to continue recommending specific platforms.
The takeaway
Religious accommodation claims involving technology are being tested case by case, and the outcome often depends on whether the employer can show the role can be done without the disputed tool. Employees considering similar requests should document their beliefs and how their job functions would change.
Further reading
For more on the technology at the center of this debate, see Artificial Intelligence coverage.
Live Poll
Would you want a religious or personal exemption from using AI at work?
