Tesla Sues Former Optimus Engineer Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft for Rival Robotics Startup
Tesla has initiated legal action against a former engineer, Zhongjie “Jay” Li, accusing him of illicitly acquiring trade secrets from its humanoid robotics program, Optimus, to establish a competing startup, Proception. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday and first reported by Bloomberg, alleges that Li leveraged confidential information pertaining to Tesla’s advanced robotic hand sensors to launch his Y Combinator-backed company, which specializes in building robotic hands.
According to the complaint, Li, who was employed by Tesla from August 2022 to September 2024, downloaded sensitive Optimus-related data onto two personal smartphones. Furthermore, in the months leading up to his departure, Li reportedly conducted research on “humanoid robotic hands” using his work computer, alongside internet searches for venture capital and startup funding.
The lawsuit highlights the rapid emergence of Proception, stating that the company was incorporated less than a week after Li left Tesla. Within just five months, Proception publicly claimed to have “successfully built” advanced humanoid robotic hands, which Tesla asserts bear a “striking resemblance” to the designs Li worked on during his tenure at the electric vehicle manufacturer.
Proception’s official website states its mission is to “revolutionize human-robot interaction by building the world’s most advanced humanoid hands.” TechCrunch has reportedly sought comments from both Proception and Tesla regarding the ongoing legal dispute.
