AI startup Relay shuts down – team joins Google's Chrome unit
The Zapier rival is closing. Founder Jacob Bank becomes VP of Product for Chrome – and hints at big plans for browser agents.
Illustration · AI-generated (AI IN LIFE)
At a glance
- Relay shutdown: free users since August 15, paying customers on September 14
- Founder Jacob Bank becomes VP of Product for Chrome at Google
- Relay was founded in 2021 as an AI-powered Zapier competitor
- Bank previously spent over six years at Google (Gmail, Calendar, Chat)
- Bank: Chrome is "a perfect place to collaborate with agents"
AI automation startup Relay is shutting down: free users lost access on August 15, and paying customers follow on September 14. Founder and CEO Jacob Bank is moving to Google with his team, taking over as VP of Product for Chrome's product and developer relations teams, as reported by TechCrunch.
Relay, founded in 2021, positioned itself as an AI-powered Zapier rival, automating repetitive tasks such as document drafting, copyediting and project management. The shutdown was first announced in July.
For Bank, it is a homecoming: he spent more than six years at Google starting in 2015, after his scheduling startup Timeful was acquired, and led product for Gmail, Calendar and Chat.
"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," Bank wrote about the move.
His reasoning for the destination stands out: Chrome, he said, is "a perfect place to collaborate with agents." Bank promised details on the browser's AI plans later – another signal that Google is building the browser into a central gateway for AI agents.
FAQ
What happens to existing Relay customers?
Free accounts were deactivated on August 15; paying customers lose access on September 14, 2026.
Why is the team joining Chrome?
Founder Jacob Bank sees the browser as "a perfect place to collaborate with agents" – he will lead product and developer relations for Chrome.
What was Relay?
An AI automation tool founded in 2021, competing with Zapier by automating tasks like document drafting and project management.
