Tesla Sues Former Engineer for Trade Secret Theft - Optimus Robot

Tesla Files Lawsuit Against Former Engineer Over Alleged Trade Secret Theft

Tesla has initiated legal action against a former employee, alleging the misappropriation of confidential information related to its Optimus humanoid robotics project.

Details of the Allegations

The lawsuit, brought forward on Wednesday and initially covered by Bloomberg, centers around accusations that Zhongjie “Jay” Li illicitly obtained trade secrets concerning the development of sophisticated robotic hand sensors.

These allegedly stolen secrets were then reportedly utilized in the establishment of a competing venture, Proception, a startup supported by Y Combinator focused on the creation of robotic hands.

Information Download and Startup Formation

According to the legal complaint, Li, employed by Tesla from August 2022 until September 2024, is accused of downloading proprietary data about the Optimus program onto two personal mobile devices.

Furthermore, the complaint details that during the final months of his tenure at Tesla, Li conducted research on “humanoid robotic hands” using company resources.

Simultaneously, he reportedly engaged in online searches pertaining to venture capital and alternative funding avenues for startups.

Rapid Development and Striking Similarities

“Proception was officially incorporated less than one week following Li’s departure from Tesla,” the complaint asserts.

“Within a mere five months, Proception publicly announced the successful development of advanced humanoid robotic hands—designs that exhibit a notable resemblance to those on which Li collaborated while at Tesla.”

Proception's Mission

Proception’s official website articulates the company’s objective to “revolutionize human-robot interaction by building the world’s most advanced humanoid hands.”

Requests for comment were directed to both Proception and Tesla by TechCrunch.

Optimus Program Development

Tesla’s Optimus robotics program has experienced a somewhat challenging trajectory since the initial unveiling of the Tesla Bot concept in 2021.

The company initially projected the introduction of the bot, alongside other new products, in 2023.

However, Optimus has remained under development.

Revised Timeline and Recent Demonstrations

In July 2024, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, indicated that the robot would become available for sale in 2026.

During Tesla’s “We, Robot” event in October 2024, the Optimus robots present were largely operated remotely by human controllers.

This suggests ongoing refinement and testing of the system.