FormerTesla engineer accused of stealing Optimus trade secrets, subject of lawsuit by the company
In a significant turn of events, Tesla Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Zhongjie "Jay" Li, a former engineer, and his startup, Proception Inc. The lawsuit, filed in June-July 2025 in the California Central District Court, alleges that Li stole trade secrets related to Tesla's Optimus humanoid robotics project, specifically confidential information about the robot’s hand sensors[1].
According to the complaint, during the final weeks of his employment, Li downloaded confidential files related to robotic hand development onto two personal smartphones and accessed internal systems just hours before his departure from Tesla[1]. Tesla's attorneys claim that Proception used this stolen data to bypass years of research and billions in investment, gaining an unfair advantage in the competitive humanoid robotics space[1].
The lawsuit cites violations under the Defend Trade Secrets Act and California's Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Tesla is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief to stop further use of its trade secrets by Li and Proception[1]. The case also includes claims of unjust enrichment and improperly disrupting Tesla's existing or potential business relationships[1].
In a striking turn of events, within five months after leaving Tesla, Li incorporated Proception in Palo Alto, California. Proception Inc. is a Y Combinator-backed company that markets itself as building the world's most advanced humanoid robotic hands[1]. The lawsuit alleges that the hands developed by Proception bear a "striking resemblance" to those built under Tesla's Optimus program[1].
As of late July 2025, the lawsuit is still active. No public information yet indicates case resolution or settlement[1][3]. The full complaint can be found below. No legal counsel has appeared on behalf of Li or Proception in court filings[1]. Tesla is seeking compensatory and exemplary damages in the lawsuit against Proception Inc. and Zhongjie "Jay" Li[1].
The case is Tesla Inc. v. Proception Inc. et al., Case No. 5:25-cv-04963, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California[1]. Li was a former engineer at Tesla from 2022 to 2024 and was part of the Optimus program's sensor engineering team[1].
Key points: - Lawsuit filed June-July 2025 in California Central District Court. - Allegations of unauthorized data access and download via personal devices. - Misappropriated trade secrets used to launch competing startup Proception. - Tesla seeks compensatory and punitive damages plus injunctive relief. - Case status: Active litigation with early filings but no reported resolution yet.
This reflects the most up-to-date and verified information from the search results[1][3].
Artificial intelligence and technology played a crucial role in the Optimus humanoid robotics project at Tesla Inc., as trade secrets related to the robotic hand sensors were allegedly stolen by a former engineer, Zhongjie "Jay" Li. The stolen data was used by Li's startup, Proception Inc., to create advanced humanoid robot hands, giving them an unfair advantage in the competitive humanoid robotics space.
