Kentucky staffer wins AI opt-out under Title VII on Sept. 25

Durman's case reflects a broader tension: employers are urging staff to adopt AI, yet some workers see it as a moral issue. Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke has called AI use a baseline expectation, and Amazon urged software engineers to adopt it when useful. Meanwhile, Gallup found 52% of U.S. employees used AI at work at least a few times a year as of May 2026, up from 21% in 2023, and an American Psychological Association survey this year found 37% worried about falling behind colleagues who use AI.

Durman was inspired by Erin Maus, a software engineer and practicing Unitarian Universalist who got a religious exemption from using AI at her tech company in May. Pope Leo XIV also warned in his May encyclical that relying on AI could erode human creativity and judgment. Durman said he read parts of the encyclical but wasn't necessarily influenced by it.

Attorney Alexandria Huiskens, who works with the American Humanist Association and helped Durman, said many Humanists don't realize they can approach their employer with this kind of exemption. Whether another employee could secure a similar accommodation would depend on their beliefs and the impact on their employer, she said.