In a recent LinkedIn post, Justin Oberman explores a provocative connection between severe migraines and the future of artificial intelligence, suggesting that the embodied experience of suffering may be key to developing genuine empathy in AI systems.
Oberman, who identifies as a migraine sufferer himself, challenges the notion that migraines are solely about physical pain. He posits that these neurological events represent a profound alteration of consciousness, capable of transforming one’s perception of reality.
“They are an alteration of consciousness so profound they change how you perceive reality itself.”
This altered state, Oberman suggests, has historically served as fertile ground for creativity. He draws parallels to figures throughout history, from the 12th-century abbess Hildegard von Bingen, whose visions are thought to be migraine auras, to literary giants like Lewis Carroll, Virginia Woolf, and Friedrich Nietzsche, all of whom experienced significant neurological challenges.
The Migraine-Creativity Link
Oberman references psychologist Oliver Sacks’ perspective that migraines are not simply illnesses but complex conditions with unique roles in an individual’s life. This complexity, Oberman argues, fosters a deep well of empathy.
“For migraine sufferers like me, this Theory of Mind comes not just from the pain, but from knowing, in our bodies, what it ‘s like when the tools for perception themselves become unreliable,” Oberman writes, explaining how this embodied experience translates to a heightened capacity for empathy.
He contends that true empathy, often termed “Theory of Mind” by psychologists, arises not merely from processing information about suffering, but from the visceral experience of it. This is a capacity, Oberman asserts, that AI fundamentally lacks.
“AI experiences no embodied suffering or involuntary disruption of its own cognition.”
AI’s Empathy Deficit
The core of Oberman’s argument rests on the inherent limitations of AI in experiencing subjective reality. He points out that AI systems do not undergo the physical and cognitive disruptions that characterize migraines. This absence of embodied suffering means AI cannot truly grasp concepts like “a bad day” or the feeling of one’s own cognitive tools failing.
The ‘Bad Day’ Analogy
“In human words: For AI, there is no such day,” Oberman states, highlighting the qualitative difference between human consciousness and artificial processing. He questions whether a system that has never experienced disruption can truly understand completeness or possess genuine understanding.
“Can a system that’s never been broken ever truly understand what it means to be whole, or understand anything.”
Oberman notes that recent studies emphasize “Theory of Mind” as crucial for effective AI use. However, he believes these studies overlook a critical element: the need for something to empathize *with*. Since AI cannot suffer, it cannot develop the subjective experience necessary for genuine empathy.
Humans as the Bridge to AI Empathy
Ultimately, Oberman proposes that humans, particularly those who have experienced profound disruptions like migraines, are essential in bridging this empathy gap for AI. He suggests that by embracing these experiences, individuals can imbue AI with a form of understanding derived from their own embodied suffering.
“AI cannot get migraines. But you can give it one,” Oberman concludes, framing human experience as the necessary catalyst for developing more empathetic AI. He implies that by becoming more attuned to our own subjective experiences, we can better guide the development and application of artificial intelligence.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Justin Oberman on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on December 28, 2025 | View original post on LinkedIn →