Tesla Sues Ex-Engineer Over Robotics Secrets
Tesla has filed a lawsuit against former engineer Zhongjie “Jay” Li, alleging he stole trade secrets from its Optimus humanoid robotics program to launch a competing startup called Proception.
The Allegations Against the Former Tesla Engineer
According to court documents filed Wednesday, Li allegedly downloaded confidential technical data about Tesla’s advanced robotic hand sensors onto two personal smartphones during his employment. The engineer worked at Tesla from August 2022 through September 2024.
The lawsuit reveals that Li conducted extensive research on humanoid robotic hands using his Tesla workstation in his final months at the company. Court filings also show he searched for information about venture capital funding and startup financing options during this period.
Suspicious Timing of Startup Launch
Court documents highlight that Li incorporated his robotic hand company, Proception, just six days after leaving Tesla. Within five months, the Y Combinator-backed firm claimed to have “successfully built” sophisticated humanoid hands resembling Tesla’s proprietary designs.
Proception’s website describes its mission as developing “the world’s most advanced humanoid hands” to transform human-robot interaction. TechCrunch has reached out to both Tesla and Proception for comment.
The Challenging Development of Tesla Optimus
Tesla’s humanoid robotics program has faced multiple challenges since Elon Musk first unveiled the Tesla Bot concept in 2021. Originally projected for a 2023 launch, Optimus remains in active development.
In July 2024, Musk revised the timeline, announcing plans to begin selling Optimus robots in 2026. Recent demonstrations at Tesla’s “We, Robot” event revealed the showcased units were largely controlled by offsite human operators rather than operating autonomously.
This legal action comes as Tesla seeks to protect its significant investment in robotics technology while competing in the rapidly evolving field of humanoid automation. The case could set important precedents for intellectual property protection in cutting-edge tech sectors.