Jason Pulos frames AI as core issue, pitches Medicare for All and a UBI funded by automation taxes

Jason Pulos, a Democratic candidate for Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District, told Around Foxborough host Steve Uden that artificial intelligence poses a major disruption to the workplace and should be central to federal policy.

"I'm very interested in how AI is affecting society and the workplace," Pulos said, arguing that policymakers must prepare because he estimates "7% of the workforce" could be displaced over the coming decade. He linked that risk to a need to decouple health insurance from employment and expand social supports.

Pulos said the "number one thing is Medicare for all," describing it as a plan to let everyone enroll in Medicare, reduce deductibles and co-payments, and expand coverage to additional benefits. He added that proponents estimate savings from a Medicare-for-All model; he stated that the proposal could "save 450 billion a year." Pulos attributed these figures to proponents of the legislation rather than presenting them as independently verified.

On income support, Pulos pointed to ongoing federal proposals and said a universal basic income should provide a floor for workers facing sudden displacement. He cited the Boost Act as an example of proposals that would deliver roughly "$250 a month for every adult" and said his campaign supports a similar floor.

To pay for those programs, Pulos proposed levying taxes on automation and on the largest AI models. "If a corporation decides to automate a job away, they they pay a tax," he said, and suggested per-token or per-use fees for large language models as a practical funding mechanism. He also suggested raising the top marginal tax rate, saying a return toward the post-war era's higher top rates could generate additional revenue.

Pulos framed AI itself as a tool that "isn't evil," but he urged governance and human oversight in clinical and workplace settings. Drawing on his research background, he described work at Brigham and Women's Hospital using decades of electronic health records to build predictive models, and stressed that clinical AI deployments must include privacy and human verification safeguards.

Pulos said he supports broader steps on campaign finance, including a "citizens over corporations" amendment to limit big money's influence, which he linked to the feasibility of funding social programs.

The candidate is campaigning in the Democratic primary scheduled for Sept. 1 and asked supporters for volunteers and organizing help.

The interview aired on Around Foxboro (Foxborough) and focused on Pulos's policy priorities and the nexus of AI, health care and economic security.