A robotics startup is poaching AI talent from Tesla.

 

Tesla's Optimus robot 

A robotics startup is poaching AI talent from Tesla.

The newly launched robotics company, Sunday Robotics, has revealed a team that includes at least 10 former employees of Tesla, the company led by billionaire Elon Musk.
The robotics startup's team includes several long-serving employees who were involved in Tesla's efforts to develop its humanoid robot " Optimus " and self-driving system, according to an analysis by LinkedIn.

Perry Jia, who worked on Tesla’s “self-driving” and Optimus robot programs for nearly six years, announced that he left the electric car manufacturer during the summer to work at the startup, according to a report by Business Insider, which was reviewed by Al Arabiya Business.

Nadesha Amarasinghe also joined Sunday Robotics during the summer, according to his LinkedIn profile. Amarasinghe previously worked at Tesla for over seven years, serving as head of AI infrastructure engineering, where he helped with both the Optimus and Autopilot programs.

Tesla's Autopilot and Optimus programs are among the company's most prominent current efforts. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that his company's ability to solve th e self-driving problem will determine its long-term value.

Musk focused heavily on the humanoid robot Optimus, saying the company ultimately aims to ship millions of units capable of performing tasks ranging from working in factories to caring for individuals.

Sunday Robotics also includes a number of former Tesla interns and self-driving program employees who have worked at Tesla over the past five years, including Jason Peterson, a former Optimus and self-driving taxi team employee, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The startup has a total of about 50 employees, including engineers and "memory developers" who helped train the "Optimus" robot, according to the company's LinkedIn page.
Cheng Chi and Tony Chao founded Sunday Robotics in 2024, based in California, USA. According to his LinkedIn profile, Chao interned with Tesla's self-driving team in 2022.

On November 19, Sunday Robotics unveiled its home robot, Memo. Zhao posted a video on X showing Memo picking up glasses, loading dishes into the dishwasher, and folding socks.
Sunday Robotics is one of several robotics startups developing a home robot.