20 years ago, MA mandated residents to buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Unaffordable healthcare inflation followed along with new mandates, rising premiums, fewer choices & increased provider payments without real transparency or efficiency standards. Taxpayer costs soared; working family income growth suffered. Small businesses & their workforces have consistently faced annual double digit premium increases. Healthcare cost reforms are long overdue.
A top maker of AI-powered robots that deliver food appears to be eyeing an expansion into Massachusetts.
While the robots, which look like beer coolers on four wheels, are likely a ways off from rattling down Boston’s sidewalks, Serve Robotics has signed up lobbying firm O’Neill and Associates as it looks to move into the market. A filing with Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office showed the company signed O’Neill last month.
The publicly traded company, which boasts of having the “largest autonomous sidewalk fleet” in the country, is already operating in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami, Alexandria and Chicago, where at least one of its robots has caused some headaches.
A Serve robot smashed into a Chicago bus shelter last month, while a similar robot operated by Coco Robotics hit another a day later. Serve’s robots have been in Chicago since September, entering the city through a pilot program that runs through May 2027.
The California-based company has 2,000 Serve robots, according to a recent investor presentation. The distance for the median U.S. food delivery is 2.5 miles and costs $8 to $10 per delivery by humans, a number that would shrink to less than $1 with Serve, the presentation said. Serve, which did not respond to an emailed request for comment, has also boasted of partnership deals with Uber Eats and DoorDash.
The concept of autonomous robotics has roiled Beacon Hill. Specifically the ones that ferry people like self-driving company Waymo, which is conducting testing in Boston. Unions have raised safety concerns and warned of job losses. (The App Drivers Union, which has spearheaded opposition against Waymo, also has O’Neill as a lobbying firm.)
Serve’s investor presentation laid out its 2026 expansion plans, with food delivery robots planned for New York, San Jose and Vancouver. Boston is on the list for 2027 and beyond, along with Seattle, Philadelphia, Toronto, London, Madrid and Tokyo, among others.
“While we obviously have to look at all the regulatory safety aspects of it, we are an innovation-forward economy, and we are trying to figure out how we nurture all types of different models of innovation, pilots, experiments and learning from others,” Eric Paley, Gov. Maura Healey’s economic development chief, told MASSterList. “And so we're open minded on all these conversations. We obviously do have to look at all of the implications, all the policy factors, the risks and safety factors, but certainly we would take any company like that very seriously.”
Serve’s move comes as the robotics sector plans to gather at the end of May at the Menino Convention Center for a summit. Speakers include people from General Motors, Amazon Robotics, Boston Dynamics, and nonprofit incubator MassRobotics. Organizers say the event “brings together 6,000+ developers who are building robots for aerospace and defense, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and other markets."
Jim Rooney, head of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, said Massachusetts is a natural draw for any industry requiring tech and talent capable of research and development.
The challenge, he added, is in the application. “As we've seen with fully autonomous vehicles, for example, we're not exactly laid out that well for even human drivers,” he said. “Boston will be probably thought of as the ultimate test.”
Answers to yesterday’s trivia: Rep. Mark Cusack and Sen. Pat Jehlen were involved in rewriting the 2016 marijuana ballot law. (Senate President Stan Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo would also be considered correct answers.) Back to today’s topic: Have you spotted these delivery robots in your travels? Let me know what you think: [email protected].
Clean Slate Massachusetts is focused on passing and implementing a law to automate the sealing of criminal offender record information (CORIs) as soon as people are eligible. People will no longer be defined by records and have the opportunity to contribute to the community, a fair chance to work, get an education, and achieve full potential. Sign on to support today!
HAPPENING TODAY
8:00 | More than 250 organizations convene for the MassEnergize Conference focused on bringing people together to discuss climate strategies and innovations. Speakers include Sen. Mike Barrett, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, and Elizabeth Mahony, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. | Bentley University 175 Forest St., Waltham | More Info
9:00 | The Supreme Judicial Court hears arguments in five cases, including a lawsuit that seeks to stop the redevelopment of White Stadium that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has backed in partnership with the Boston Legacy FC women's soccer team. | John Adams Courthouse, Room 1, 1 Pemberton Sq., Boston | More Info
9:00 | The Public Health Council meets. Commissioner Robbie Goldstein plans to give an update and a vote is scheduled on a Determination of Need request from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which is looking to build and operate a new proton beam therapy center in Boston. | More Info and Access
9:00 | Boston Mayor Michelle Wu presents her $4.9 billion fiscal year 2027 budget proposal to the City Council. Wu will also unveil her $4.4 billion fiscal 2027-2031 five-year capital plan. | Civic Pavilion at Boston City Hall, 5 Congress St., Boston | Livestream
10:30 | Auditor Diana DiZoglio attends New Bedford State of the City address. | Zeiterion, 684 Purchase St., New Bedford
12:00 | Author Scott Kerman discusses "The Duke: Weekly Conversations with the Last Honest Politician," a book based on conversations with former Gov. Michael Dukakis over five years. | State Library, State House, Boston
MASSterList Job Board |
|---|
Digital Director — NEW!, Nature for Massachusetts |
Campaign Manager (State Senate) — NEW!, Committee to Elect Tom Hopcroft |
Communications Coordinator — NEW!, Supreme Judicial Court |
Director of Financial Operations, Commonwealth Corporation |
Controller, Commonwealth Corporation |
Library Director, City of Newton |
Jobs continue below the fold — post a job
FROM BEACON HILL
SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTIONS: As House lawmakers get ready to vote on restricting social media access for kids under 14, questions about enforcement and free speech still loom. – MassLive
HEALEY ON DATA CENTERS: As data centers face a backlash across the country due to electricity costs and environmental concerns, Gov. Maura Healey said more are needed. The stance is a contrast to Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who backs a moratorium on new proposals for data centers. – Boston Globe
AUDIT FIGHT: Fall River Rep. Alan Silvia broke with Beacon Hill leaders to support Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s push for a legislative audit, which is before the Supreme Judicial Court. “The obstruction continues, and my constituents continually ask me, ‘Where’s the audit?’ I can no longer sit back and kick this can down the road,” he said. – CommonWealth Beacon
NEWS NEXT DOOR
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: Barry Brown, who oversaw the collapse of Mount Ida College, is locked in a legal battle with the family of Rosalie Stahl. Brown is the trustee of Rosalie’s estate. – Boston Globe
SHOUTING MATCH: An argument between Springfield City Council Tracye Whitfield and Councilor Victor Davila escalated into a shouting match as they discussed real estate and the possible construction of a mosque. – MassLive
NEW BEDFORD GAP: New Bedford’s CFO says the city could be facing a $10 million to $15 million deficit next fiscal year, and warned that the tax rate, after years of decreases, may have to go up. – New Bedford Light
BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE: A Boston Police Department attorney told city councilors that DA Kevin Hayden has power over releasing body cam footage as part of a death investigation, rather than the BPD’s commissioner. Councilors are pressing for the release of footage after police fatally shot a man. – Boston Herald
NEW UMASS CHANCELLOR: UMass overseers picked Dr. David McManus as the medical school’s next chancellor, who replaces Dr. Michael Collins. McManus, who is the first alumnus of the school to hold the job, will take the reins as the sector grapples with threats to federal funding. – Worcester Telegram
EASTHAMPTON HIRE: Lindsi Sekula, a former public housing resident and more recently the executive assistant who ran for mayor of Easthampton, is the next executive director of the Easthampton Housing Authority. – Daily Hampshire Gazette
Join legislators and thought leaders for a timely forum on the AI revolution in Massachusetts. Explore the challenges and opportunities of AI policy on Thursday, May 7, at the MCLE (Boston). RSVP!
MORE HEADLINES
JOB BOARD
Do you have an open job you'd like to feature here? Click here to place a job board order, or email Dylan Rossiter at [email protected].
Associate Deputy General Counsel, Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance
Senior Associate General Counsel, Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance
Deputy General Counsel/ Program Manager Specialist VII, Executive Office of Education
OIG Academy Instructor, Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General
Office Manager, Government Affairs Firm
Vice President of Programs and Services, St. Francis House
Government Affairs Manager, Government Affairs Firm
Director of Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Executive Assistant, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Communications & Engagement Manager, Survivors Say, Inc.
Senior Attorney – Strategic Litigation, Conservation Law Foundation
Part-time Outreach Clinician/Case Manager, City of Fitchburg Health Dept
