Tesla accuses ex-employee of misusing robotics data to build startup Proception

Tesla has filed a lawsuit against Zhongjie “Jay” Li, a former engineer who worked on its humanoid robotics program, Optimus. The complaint alleges that Li misappropriated trade secrets related to advanced robotic hand sensors, which he reportedly downloaded onto two personal smartphones. Tesla asserts that Li used this confidential information to found a competing startup named Proception, which is supported by Y Combinator and focuses on developing humanoid robotic hands. According to the lawsuit, Li left Tesla in September 2024, and Proception was incorporated less than a week later. Within five months, the startup claimed it had successfully developed robotic hands that closely resemble Tesla’s designs. During his final months at Tesla, Li had allegedly conducted research on humanoid robotic hands and startup funding from his work computer. Tesla’s Optimus initiative, introduced in 2021 and still in development, aims to bring humanoid robots to market by 2026. The company’s progress has included human-controlled demos and planned timelines that have yet to materialize. TechCrunch has contacted both Tesla and Proception for further comments, but no responses have been reported yet.