Tesla has initiated legal proceedings against a former engineer, Zhongjie “Jay” Li, accusing him of stealing trade secrets related to its humanoid robotics program, Optimus. The lawsuit, filed recently, claims that Li misappropriated information to establish a competing startup called Proception, which focuses on developing robotic hands and is backed by Y Combinator.
According to the allegations, Li worked at Tesla from August 2022 until September 2024. During his tenure, he reportedly downloaded confidential materials concerning Optimus onto two personal smartphones.
Furthermore, the complaint indicates that in the final months of his employment, Li conducted extensive research on “humanoid robotic hands” using his work computer and also searched for information on venture capital and startup funding opportunities. The lawsuit emphasizes the timeline, noting that just a week after leaving Tesla, Proception was incorporated.
Within five months, the startup claimed to have developed advanced humanoid robotic hands resembling the designs developed by Li during his time at Tesla. Proception has positioned itself as a pioneer in enhancing human-robot interaction through its innovative design of humanoid hands.
Tesla’s Optimus program has faced challenges since it was announced by CEO Elon Musk in 2021. Initially anticipated to debut new products, including the humanoid robot, in 2023, the project has remained in the developmental stages.
Musk recently projected that the company plans to begin selling the Optimus robot in 2026. At an October 2024 event, the Optimus bots showcased were primarily operated by humans rather than functioning autonomously, indicating ongoing hurdles in reaching full operational capability.