AI automation startup Relay shuts down, staff joins Google’s Chrome team
Relay, the AI-driven workflow automation platform that debuted in 2021 with aspirations to challenge industry incumbents like Zapier, is officially closing its doors. As part of the wind-down, a significant portion of the startup’s workforce—including its leadership—is transitioning to Google to bolster the Chrome division.
A Strategic Pivot to Mountain View
Jacob Bank, the founder and CEO of Relay, confirmed the shutdown in a recent announcement. While free users lost access to the platform on August 15, the service will officially cease operations for its remaining paying customers on September 14.
Bank, a former Google veteran, is returning to the tech giant in a high-profile capacity. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has been appointed as the VP of Product for Google Chrome. In this new role, he is tasked with leading the browser’s product and developer relations teams.
“I’ve spent my whole career doing one thing: building tools that help people get more done with AI, without sacrificing their personal creativity or insights. And joining the Chrome team is an ideal opportunity to bring those experiences to many, many more people.” — Jacob Bank, CEO of Relay
The Future of AI in Chrome
Bank’s history with Google runs deep; he joined the company in 2015 following the acquisition of his previous venture, the scheduling application Timeful. During his initial tenure, he served as a product lead for core Google services, including Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat.
Relay’s core value proposition centered on streamlining repetitive business processes—such as document drafting and project management—through intelligent automation. Now, Bank aims to translate that expertise into the browser environment. While specific product roadmaps remain under wraps, Bank has hinted at the browser's potential as a hub for intelligent agents.
“We have some really ambitious plans to help you work with AI in Chrome to get things done, and I’ll have more to share soon,” Bank noted in a post on X.
Google’s Aggressive AI Integration
This acquisition of talent underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to weaving artificial intelligence into the fabric of its user experience. The company has already seen significant success with its Gemini model, which has been integrated into Search and serves as an optional in-browser assistant within Chrome.
With Google recently reporting that Gemini has surpassed 1 billion users, the addition of the Relay team suggests that the company is looking to further refine how users interact with AI agents directly within their primary workspace: the web browser. As the industry watches, the question remains how Bank’s team will transform Chrome from a simple navigation tool into a more proactive, automated workspace.