Kentucky administrator gets religious exemption from using AI at work

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistSix minutes of volcano, and I took it personally.

2. 

   Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistAnyway, a Kentucky man just opted out of artificial intelligence at work, using a civil rights law.

3. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOpted out of AI with a civil rights law? Okay, walk me through it, because I have questions and zero paperwork.

4. 

   Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistDavid Durman, an administrator at the University of Kentucky, is the first Humanist granted an AI exemption under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, according to Fortune.

5. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorTitle Seven. That's the one protecting religious beliefs at work, right?

6. 

   Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistRight. And Humanism isn't a belief in a god. The university approved his request on September twenty-fifth.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHow does a person even ask for that?

8. 

   Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistHe sent the Office of Equal Opportunity a letter in late August asking not to use AI personally.

9. 

   Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistThe tools he objected to include Microsoft Teams Copilot, ChatGPT and Claude.

10. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThree tools, one letter. That's efficient. Is there precedent?

11. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistSort of. Mediaite reports a software engineer and Unitarian Universalist, Erin Maus, got an AI exemption in May. Durman's is the first for a Humanist.

12. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo who does this actually cover? Everybody in his office?

13. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistNo. Durman says it applies only to him, and he isn't trying to affect anyone else's work.

14. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFair. What does he do day to day, then?

15. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistHe turns off Gemini in his Google searches and disables as many AI features as he can. The exemption covers his personal use.

16. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorPersonal use. So the meetings are still on the platforms that use it?

17. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistYes. AI Weekly says he still attends meetings and submits materials through platforms that use AI.

18. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo he's out of the AI, but the AI is still in the room.

19. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistBoth sides will have a view. Employers want everyone using the tools, and employees say a sincere belief deserves the same respect as any other.

20. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd the university?

21. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistA spokesperson told TechCrunch it reviews religious accommodation requests individually. Durman said, quote, for me, this was about me and my convictions.

22. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat happens next? Will others try it?

23. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistUnclear. The American Humanist Association publicized this on October twenty-sixth, and its attorney called it a first for the group.

24. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistEach request gets judged on its own.

25. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo a Kentucky administrator declined the chatbot with a sixty-year-old law, one letter, and his own convictions. Thanks for walking me through it, Brock.

26. 

    Brock Thunderson · Chief MeteorologistI'd like to file for an exemption from your support, Chip.