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Sigal Samuel

Sigal Samuel

Senior Reporter

Sigal Samuel is a senior reporter for Vox’s Future Perfect and co-host of the Future Perfect podcast. She writes primarily about the future of consciousness, tracking advances in artificial intelligence and neuroscience and their staggering ethical implications. She also writes about how to make the world better for all of us now, from improving mental health to alleviating poverty to protecting nature.

Before joining Vox, Sigal was the religion editor at the Atlantic. Her work has also been published in outlets like BuzzFeed, the Daily Beast, the Rumpus, and Electric Literature. She has appeared on NPR, BBC, and CBC. Sigal is also the author of two award-winning books. Osnat and Her Dove, a children’s book, tells the true story of the world’s first female rabbi. The Mystics of Mile End, a novel, tells the story of a dysfunctional family dealing with mysticism, madness, and mathematics in Montreal. Sigal earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of British Columbia and her BA in philosophy from McGill University. Learn more about Sigal here.

Sigal can be reached by email sigal.samuel@vox.com and on Twitter at @sigalsamuel.

Ethics Statement

Future Perfect coverage may include stories about organizations that writers have made personal donations to. This does not in any way affect the editorial independence of our coverage, and this information will be disclosed clearly when relevant.

Future Perfect is supported in part by grants from foundations and individual donors. Future Perfect prizes its editorial independence, and all editorial decisions are made separately from fundraising and commercial considerations. See Vox’s ethics and guidelines for more.

Latest articles by Sigal Samuel

You can’t optimize your way to being a good person
The Highlight

I tried to make the perfect moral choice every time. It eroded my humanity.

By Sigal Samuel
The 14 predictions that came true in 2024 — and the 10 that didn’t
Future Perfect

The 24 forecasts we made in 2024, revisited.

By Bryan Walsh, Dylan Matthews and 4 more
My family voted for Trump. How can we talk about politics without ruining the holidays?
Future Perfect

You don’t have to shy away from argument and persuasion. Here’s how to do it right.

By Sigal Samuel
How to think about the public backlash to the killing of a health care CEOHow to think about the public backlash to the killing of a health care CEO
Future Perfect

Why Brian Thompson’s death has provoked such complicated reactions from the public.

By Aja Romano and Sigal Samuel
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.
Future Perfect

These are 11 of the most high-impact, cost-effective, evidence-based organizations. You may not have heard of them.

By Sigal Samuel, Rachel DuRose and 1 more
Want to help animals? Here’s where to donate your money.Want to help animals? Here’s where to donate your money.
Future Perfect

These are the most effective charities for reducing animal suffering.

By Sigal Samuel and Kenny Torrella
Giving thanks may make your brain more altruisticGiving thanks may make your brain more altruistic
Future Perfect

Neuroscience is revealing a fascinating link between gratitude and generosity.

By Sigal Samuel
Neuroscientist Rafael Yuste could play your brain like an instrument. He wants to protect it instead.
Future Perfect

Your brain needs new rights. He’s fighting to secure them.

By Sigal Samuel
Shannon Vallor says AI does present an existential risk — but not the one you think
Future Perfect

AI is not a “stochastic parrot,” It’s a mirror, says the philosopher.

By Sigal Samuel
Want to donate to charity? Here are 10 guidelines for giving effectively.Want to donate to charity? Here are 10 guidelines for giving effectively.
Future Perfect

How to do the most good possible with the money you give.

By Dylan Matthews and Sigal Samuel