Relay, the AI-powered workflow automation tool, is ceasing operations. Its founder Jacob Bank and key staff are migrating to Google Chrome to integrate advanced AI agents into the browser.

  • Relay will officially shut down for all paying customers by September 14.
  • Founder Jacob Bank returns to Google as VP of Product for Chrome.
  • The move signals a strategic push to transform Chrome into an AI-agent-driven platform.

Launched in 2021 with the ambitious goal of becoming the next Zapier, Relay, an AI-driven workflow automation startup, has announced its permanent closure. CEO Jacob Bank confirmed that the platform will stop serving paying customers on September 14, following the termination of free access on August 15.

While the shutdown marks the end of the startup, it signals a massive gain for Google. Bank, a former Google veteran, is rejoining the company as the VP of Product for Google Chrome. In this high-stakes role, he will oversee product development and developer relations, focusing on the intersection of browsing and artificial intelligence.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that Google is aggressively pivoting from a search-centric company to an agent-centric ecosystem. By absorbing the talent from Relay, Google is likely preparing to launch "Agentic Workflows" directly within the Chrome browser. This would allow users to automate complex multi-step tasks—like research, drafting, and scheduling—without ever leaving the browser tab, directly challenging the productivity suites of Microsoft and OpenAI.

"Joining the Chrome team is an ideal opportunity to bring AI experiences to many, many more people through a platform that is already ubiquitous." - Jacob Bank

Bank's history with Google is extensive. He first joined in 2015 after Google acquired his previous scheduling startup, Timeful. During his first tenure, he led critical product efforts for Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat, establishing him as a key figure in Google's productivity suite evolution.

Relay's core offering—streamlining repetitive business tasks such as document drafting and project management—is exactly what Google aims to scale. This follows the successful integration of Gemini into Google Search and Chrome, where the AI assistant has already helped Gemini reach over 1 billion users.

Feature Relay (Startup) Google Chrome (Future Vision)
Primary Goal B2B Workflow Automation Universal AI-Driven Browsing
Scale Niche Business Users Billions of Global Users
Focus Task Automation AI Agent Integration
Did You Know?: The practice of hiring a startup's entire team to acquire their expertise rather than their product is known in Silicon Valley as an "Acqui-hire."

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When does Relay officially stop operating?
Paying customers will lose access on September 14.

2. What is Jacob Bank's new role at Google?
He is the VP of Product for Google Chrome, leading product and developer relations.