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AI Startup Relay Closes Down as Founder and Team Move to Google Chrome

Artificial intelligence workflow automation startup Relay is shutting down its operations, with several members of its staff, including founder and Chief Executive Officer Jacob Bank, moving to Google to join the Chrome browser team.

What Happened

Founded in 2021 with the objective of building an alternative to automation service Zapier, Relay offered tools to help businesses streamline repetitive administrative and operational workloads. The platform assisted users in automating project management workflows as well as tasks like document drafting and copyediting.

The company initially revealed its plans to shut down in July. According to an update shared by Bank, access for non-paying users ceased on August 15, while service for paying subscribers is scheduled to end on September 14.

Following the wind-down, Bank is returning to Google, where he previously worked for more than six years. He will take up the role of Vice President of Product for Google Chrome, taking charge of both the product division and developer relations teams for the web browser.

Key Highlights

  • Startup Wind-Down: Relay, launched in 2021 as an AI-driven workflow automation platform, is ending all platform operations.
  • Service Timeline: Free accounts lost access on August 15, while paying customers will have access terminated on September 14 following the initial July closure announcement.
  • Executive Transition: Founder and CEO Jacob Bank is joining Google as Vice President of Product for Chrome, heading product and developer relations.
  • Staff Movement: Select members of Relay’s team are also joining Google alongside Bank.
  • Past Google Tenure: Bank previously arrived at Google in 2015 when his scheduling startup Timeful was acquired, later serving as product lead across Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat.

Why This Matters

The transition marks another step in Google’s ongoing effort to expand AI functionality across its core products. Google has already incorporated its Gemini model across Search as well as into the Chrome browser, where it operates as an optional in-browser assistant. According to Google, Gemini recently surpassed 1 billion users.

Bank, who noted on X that he views Chrome as an ideal environment to collaborate with AI agents, described the move to Google Chrome as an opportunity to scale AI-driven productivity tools to a broader audience without compromising user creativity or personal insights.

What to Watch Next

Specific details on how Bank and his incoming team will integrate new AI capabilities into Google Chrome have not yet been disclosed. However, Bank stated that plans are underway to help users accomplish tasks using AI inside Chrome, with further announcements expected in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Relay stop working completely?

Free user access was cut off on August 15, and paying customers will lose access to the automation tool on September 14.

What was Relay designed to do?

Launched in 2021, Relay was created as an AI-powered workflow automation system designed to handle repetitive business workflows, such as copyediting, drafting documents, and managing projects.

What will Jacob Bank do at Google?

Bank will serve as Vice President of Product for Google Chrome, leading the browser’s product and developer relations divisions.

Source: TechCrunch