Tesla Sues Ex-Engineer Over Robotics Secret Theft
Tesla has filed a lawsuit against former engineer Zhongjie “Jay” Li, accusing him of stealing trade secrets from its Optimus humanoid robotics program to launch competing startup Proception.
Allegations of Intellectual Property Theft
According to court documents filed Wednesday, Li allegedly downloaded confidential information about Tesla’s advanced robotic hand sensors onto two personal smartphones during his tenure from August 2022 to September 2024. The lawsuit claims he used this proprietary technology to accelerate development at his Y Combinator-backed startup.
Suspicious Activity Before Departure
Tesla’s complaint reveals Li conducted extensive workplace research on “humanoid robotic hands” in his final months, along with searches about venture capital funding. The company emphasized the suspicious timing: “Less than a week after he left Tesla, Proception was incorporated.”
Striking Similarities in Robotic Designs
The complaint highlights that Proception publicly demonstrated robotic hands within five months of Li’s departure, noting their “striking resemblance” to Tesla’s Optimus designs. Proception’s website describes its mission to build the world’s most advanced humanoid hands for improved human-robot interaction.
Optimus Program Development Timeline
Tesla’s robotics ambitions have faced challenges since Elon Musk first announced the humanoid robot project in 2021:
- 2022: Predicted commercial launch in 2023
- July 2024: Revised timeline to 2026 sales date
- October 2024: “We, Robot” event revealed Optimus prototypes still required human operators
This lawsuit comes at a critical juncture for Tesla as it competes in the rapidly evolving humanoid robotics market. The case underscores the growing importance of protecting AI and robotics intellectual property as companies race to commercialize these advanced technologies.
TechCrunch has reached out to both Tesla and Proception for additional comments on the legal proceedings.