Tesla has initiated legal proceedings against its former employee Zhongjie “Jay” Li over allegations that advanced hand sensor technologies belonging to its humanoid robot project Optimus were stolen. The company claims that Li downloaded this technological information to his personal devices without permission and then commercialized this information by founding his own venture, Proception.

Former Tesla engineer may have stolen robot technologies

According to Tesla’s claims, the incident began when Li worked at Tesla between August 2022 and September 2024. During this period, it was determined that Li downloaded technical documents belonging to the Optimus robot to two of his personal smartphones. The documents are said to contain critical engineering data on advanced robotic hand sensors.

In the complaint file submitted to the court by the company, it is stated that Li conducted intensive research on “humanoid robotic hands” using Tesla’s computer infrastructure during the last few months of his tenure.

During the same period, it was recorded that he also conducted research on venture capital, startup financing and similar issues over the internet. Tesla says Li left his position at the company after these activities, and just a few days later, a new technology company called Proception was officially founded.

Proception was first introduced to the public just five months after Li left Tesla. According to information published on the company’s website, the goal is to “produce the world’s most advanced humanoid hands” and transform human-robot interaction.

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