Latest news with #ProceptionInc
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's Tesla sues ex-employee over robot secrets, claims his startup ‘achieved in months what took Tesla years'
Tesla has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a former employee of stealing trade secrets related to its humanoid robot project, Optimus, and using them to start a competing company. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, June 11 in San Francisco. The case is Tesla Inc v. Proception Inc , U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 5:25-cv-04963. It claims that Zhongjie "Jay" Li — who worked on robotic hand sensors at Tesla from August 2022 to September 2024 — downloaded confidential files shortly before resigning. Just days after leaving, he allegedly founded a new startup, Proception Inc. Tesla accuses former engineer of misusing confidential information Tesla says that within five months, Proception unveiled robotic hands that closely resemble the ones Li helped develop at Tesla. The lawsuit names both Li and Proception as defendants, accusing them of misusing Tesla's confidential information. "Through Li's pilfering, Defendant Proception purportedly achieved in a matter of months what it has taken Tesla over four years, hundreds of employees, and billions of dollars to achieve," the complaint said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo According to Tesla, Li worked on the robot's sensor team between 2022 and 2024. Even though he had stopped working on the robot's hands, Tesla claims he downloaded confidential files about their movement shortly before quitting in 2024. Six days after leaving, Li started a new company called Proception. Just five months later, the startup showed off robotic hands that Tesla says look very similar to its own designs, the lawsuit alleges. Tesla is asking the court to stop Li and his company from using any of its trade secrets and is also seeking financial compensation. When Elon Musk called Tesla's robotic hand 'the most sophisticated ever made Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously called Tesla's robotic hand 'the most sophisticated ever made,' and believes the Optimus robot could become the company's most valuable product. He has said that robots like Optimus could impact national economies in as little as four to five years and learn tasks by watching online videos. India's New AC Rule: Cooling Between 20°C–28°C Explained AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tesla sues ex-engineer for allegedly stealing humanoid robot tech to launch rival startup
Tesla has filed a federal lawsuit against former employee Zhongjie 'Jay' Li and his startup, Proception Inc, accusing them of misappropriating trade secrets related to the company's humanoid robot project, Optimus. The suit was filed Wednesday in a US District Court in San Francisco, ET Tech reports. According to Tesla, Li, who worked at the EV giant from August 2022 until September 2024, illegally transferred confidential design files to his personal devices just weeks before resigning. Shortly thereafter, he incorporated Proception Inc, which has since claimed rapid progress in humanoid robotics—particularly in robotic hand development. Tesla Alleges Direct Copying of Proprietary Designs The complaint alleges that Li transferred sensitive data related to Optimus onto two personal smartphones during his final weeks at Tesla. Investigations further revealed that Li had been searching for 'humanoid robotic hands' and startup funding opportunities on his Tesla-issued laptop. 'Less than a week after he left Tesla, Proception was incorporated,' the company stated in its filing. 'And within just five months, Proception publicly claimed to have 'successfully built' advanced humanoid robotic hands—hands that bear a striking resemblance to the designs Li worked on at Tesla.' The lawsuit asserts that Proception's current robotic prototypes are unlawfully derived from Tesla's proprietary work on Optimus, the company's ambitious humanoid robot project that Elon Musk has touted as a future cornerstone of Tesla's AI portfolio. The legal action follows a broader leadership transition within Tesla's Optimus team. Milan Kovac, vice president of engineering for Optimus, has stepped down from his role. He will be succeeded by Ashok Elluswamy, the current head of Tesla's Autopilot engineering division, according to Bloomberg. Tesla has not commented publicly beyond the contents of the lawsuit, and Proception has yet to issue a formal response. What's at Stake With humanoid robotics seen as a major next frontier in artificial intelligence and automation, Tesla's Optimus project holds strategic importance. The company has already showcased early-stage prototypes of Optimus and has positioned it as a potential game-changer across manufacturing, logistics, and even domestic use cases. If Tesla's claims prove valid, the case could set a precedent in the highly competitive and fast-evolving humanoid robotics space, where intellectual property and first-mover advantage are critical.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Elon Musk's Tesla sues former Optimus robot engineer for allegedly stealing trade secrets
Elon Musk's Tesla is suing one of its former engineers for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to its highly anticipated Optimus humanoid robot. The defendant is Zhongjie 'Jay' Li, who cofounded the humanoid robot startup Proception Inc. after working at Tesla from Aug. 2022 to Sept. 2024, according to the complaint filed in San Francisco federal court on Wednesday. The lawsuit alleges Li, who worked on 'advanced robotic hand sensors—and was entrusted with some of the most sensitive technical data in the program,' downloaded Optimus files onto two smartphones. 3 A former engineer is accused of using Optimus technology to create his own startup. REUTERS Li started Proception less than a week after leaving Tesla and the startup claimed to have built humanoid robot hands with a 'striking resemblance' to Optimus just five months later. 'Rather than build through legitimate innovation, trial, and technical rigor, Defendants took a shortcut: theft,' the lawsuit says. 'They misappropriated Tesla's most sensitive materials, sidestepped the laborious process of development, and launched a company based not on original discovery, but on stolen work.' Tesla is seeking unspecified 'compensatory and exemplary damages' against Li, as well an order barring Li and his associates from using any of the company's trade secrets. The company also requested a jury trial in the case. Proception is based in Palo Alto, Calif., according to its LinkedIn page. Li lists himself as founder and CEO of the startup, which he says is 'tackling one of the most challenging and exciting humanoid projects of our time.' Li did not immediately return a request for comment on the lawsuit. In the suit, Tesla's attorneys said that successfully building an advanced robotic hand is 'among the most challenging' tasks in robotics. 3 Elon Musk has said Optimus is key to Tesla's future. AP 'Although Tesla does not disclose the precise year-over-year investments in Optimus, the research and development costs are in the billions of dollars,' the lawsuit says. 'Such an ambitious project demands unparalleled expertise and substantial time and financial commitment to achieve even incremental progress.' Musk has repeatedly described Tesla's Optimus robot as key to the company's long-term health and growth. The billionaire specifically touted Optimus's advanced robotic hand during the company's earnings call in January. 3 The Optimus humanoid robot is still in production at Tesla. Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/Shutterstock 'My prediction long-term is that Optimus will be overwhelmingly the value of the company,' Musk said at the time. Bloomberg was first to report on the lawsuit.
