AI automation startup Relay shuts down, staff joins Google’s Chrome team
Original reporting by TechCrunch
The AI workflow automation platform Relay is shutting down, with its CEO Jacob Bank returning to Google to lead AI integration for Chrome. Launched in 2021 with ambitions to rival Zapier, Relay provided AI-powered productivity upgrades, enabling businesses to streamline repetitive tasks from document drafting and copyediting to complex project management. The application will cease access for paying customers on September 14, following an initial announcement in July and an earlier closure for free users. This transition marks a significant moment for Bank, who previously spent over six years at Google, having first joined after his startup Timeful was acquired and serving as product lead for major products like Gmail, Calendar, and Chat.
A strategic return
Bank now assumes the role of VP of Product for Google Chrome, where he will oversee both product and developer relations. He articulated his vision on X, emphasizing his career-long dedication to building AI tools that augment human creativity without sacrificing personal insight. Bank views joining the Chrome team as an "ideal opportunity" to scale these experiences, hinting at "ambitious plans" to integrate AI directly into Chrome and describing the browser as a "perfect place to collaborate with agents." This strategic move aligns with Google's extensive effort to infuse AI across its ecosystem, exemplified by Gemini's deep integration into Search and as an optional in-browser assistant in Chrome, a strategy that has already seen Gemini crest one billion users and reshape core user experiences.
The closure of Relay marks the end of an ambitious venture to redefine workflow automation, yet it simultaneously ushers in a significant new chapter for its founder, Jacob Bank, and for Google's broader AI strategy. While Relay's departure highlights the competitive challenges faced by standalone AI productivity tools, Bank's rejoining Google as VP of Product for Chrome is more than just a personnel change; it is a clear strategic signal from the tech giant.
Chrome's AI Trajectory
Bank's expertise in building AI-powered productivity tools, now focused on Chrome, indicates Google's accelerating commitment to embedding artificial intelligence deep within its foundational products. His comments about "ambitious plans" for AI in Chrome, and the browser being "a perfect place to collaborate with agents," suggest a future beyond current Gemini integrations. This likely points toward a more profound, native AI experience that could transform the browser into an intelligent, proactive assistant, streamlining tasks and enhancing user productivity directly within the web environment. For Google, this move further solidifies its position in the AI race, aiming to deliver ubiquitous, seamlessly integrated AI capabilities across its ecosystem. It also underscores the ongoing consolidation of top AI talent within major tech firms, as the landscape for AI-driven innovation continues to shift rapidly. Ultimately, Bank’s new role portends a substantial evolution for Chrome, positioning it as a front-line platform in the quest for AI-driven productivity and a more integrated, intelligent web experience for billions.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Relay, the AI workflow automation tool, ceasing its operations?
- Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation tool launched in 2021 as an alternative to Zapier, is shutting down. The company initially announced its closure in July, with access for free customers ending August 15 and paying customers by September 14. Its founder and CEO, Jacob Bank, along with some staff, are rejoining Google's Chrome team, indicating a strategic shift rather than a business failure.
- What is Jacob Bank's new role and focus at Google after Relay's shutdown?
- Jacob Bank, founder and CEO of the now-defunct Relay, is rejoining Google as Vice President of Product for Google Chrome. In this role, he will lead the product and developer relations teams for Chrome. Bank's focus will be on further integrating artificial intelligence into the Chrome experience, aiming to help users achieve more with AI directly within the browser, building on his career-long experience with AI productivity tools.
- How is Google planning to integrate more artificial intelligence features into its Chrome browser?
- Google is progressively integrating AI into Chrome to enhance user experience and productivity. Gemini, Google's AI model, is already available as an optional in-browser assistant. With Jacob Bank joining as VP of Product for Chrome, there are ambitious plans to deepen AI collaboration within the browser. The goal is to develop tools that leverage AI to help users complete tasks more efficiently without sacrificing personal creativity, building on Google's broader strategy of AI integration across its product ecosystem.