Pope Leo XIV once condemned AI as a threat to human dignity, but those who are concerned about whether AI is in line with their own beliefs are not limited to devout believers. A librarian at the University of Kentucky, an atheist humanist named David Durman, has recently been granted a religious exemption from using AI in her work.

Durman told TechCrunch: "Humanism is a set of beliefs about human experience and how humans interact with the world." He stated that this philosophy emphasizes "the well-being and prosperity of humanity, both individually and collectively... and requires a person to strive to improve the well-being and prosperity of themselves and those around them."

As AI becomes increasingly popular in daily life, Durman contacted the American Humanist Association (AHA), a non-profit organization that promotes secular humanism, to find out how to obtain legal protection so as not to have to use AI at work. He believes that using this technology goes against his beliefs.

He said, "The reason we are able to become moral agents responsible for ourselves and others is by actively using our thinking. However, the use of AI undermines this, which will inevitably have a negative impact on our ability to do so." He made these remarks when discussing how over-reliance on AI may affect critical thinking.

In a statement released earlier this week by AHA, Durman wrote: “AI is interfering with people’s ability to make a living; its environmental costs are disastrous for both humanity and the Earth, and its replacement and theft of human creativity are threatening cultural elements that contribute to social prosperity, such as art and literature.”

Humanism is not against religion, but it often attracts those who are skeptical about gods or other supernatural forces, yet still wish to rely on a scientific and moral framework for self-support.

AHA Staff lawyer Alexandria Huiskens told TechCrunch: "Concerns for AI and human dignity can transcend a variety of different beliefs and traditions, whether it's Catholic doctrine, Universalism, or Humanism. We want humanists or atheists to know that they also fall within these categories – they are equally protected by law in the workplace."

Durman was one of the first humanists to receive workplace accommodations that allowed them not to use AI, and he was also among the first to speak publicly about seeking such protections. He was inspired after reading about a Unitarian Universalist believer and software engineer, Erin Maus, who also managed to secure similar protections for himself.

He said, "For me, this is about me and my beliefs. I certainly don't want to tell others how to think or feel... But I do hope that this will encourage those with similar concerns to strive for what they believe is the most appropriate solution, not necessarily religious exemption, but to do their best to achieve it."

A spokesperson from the University of Kentucky, Jay Blanton, told TechCrunch that the school will review each application for religious accommodations on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the job responsibilities of the employees and the specific circumstances of each application.

Blanton stated in the declaration: 'In this case, the school has determined that it is possible to make convenient arrangements while allowing the employee to continue to perform the core functions of their position. As technology and job responsibilities evolve, these convenient arrangements may also be re-evaluated to ensure they remain reasonable and feasible.'

The situation with Maus is particularly unusual, as it has become rare for software engineers to write code without any AI assistance these days. However, in his administrative role at Durman, he is responsible for supporting researchers in applying for funding, and his job does not require the use of AI. Like employees in many industries, some of his colleagues and management have suggested that employees try these tools, so he is now seeking an exemption in case this suggestion becomes a mandatory requirement in the future.

Durman said, "I hope that if others have similar feelings, they will be encouraged to seek some kind of solution."