Sunday Robotics, a new startup focused on home robots, came out of stealth mode last week, revealing a team that includes at least 10 former Tesla employees. The company unveiled its Memo robot, capable of tasks like loading dishwashers and folding socks. This move highlights the growing competition in advanced robotics, drawing talent from Tesla's key AI programs.
Sunday Robotics cofounded by Cheng Chi and Tony Zhao in 2024, emerged from stealth mode last week. The startup revealed a team of around 50 people, including engineers and "memory developers" who train the robot, according to its LinkedIn page.
At least 10 former Tesla employees now work at Sunday Robotics, based on a LinkedIn analysis. Several are longtime staff involved in Tesla's humanoid robot and self-driving efforts. For instance, Perry Jia, who spent nearly six years on Tesla's Autopilot and Optimus programs, left the electric-car maker in the summer to join the startup. He announced his move last week.
Nadeesha Amarasinghe also joined during the summer after more than seven years at Tesla, where he served as an engineering lead for AI infrastructure, assisting both Optimus and Autopilot. Jason Peterson, a former Optimus and robotaxi talent employee, is another addition. Tony Zhao, a cofounder, interned on Tesla's Autopilot team in 2022.
On November 19, Sunday Robotics unveiled its home robot, Memo. Cofounder Zhao posted a video on X showing Memo picking up wine glasses, loading a dishwasher, and folding socks. In the post, Zhao stated: "Today, we present a step-change in robotic AI @sundayrobotics. Introducing ACT-1: A frontier robot foundation model trained on zero robot data. - Ultra long-horizon tasks - Zero-shot generalization - Advanced dexterity."
Tesla's Autopilot and Optimus are central to its strategy. CEO Elon Musk has emphasized that solving autonomous driving will determine the company's long-term value. He has also highlighted Optimus, aiming to ship millions of units for tasks from factory work to personal care.
Sunday Robotics joins a competitive field. Most recently, startup 1X unveiled its consumer-ready Neo home robot in October, planning shipments next year. Tesla and Sunday Robotics did not respond to requests for comment.