Relay, an AI automation startup that aimed to compete with Zapier, is shutting down on September 14, and its founder Jacob Bank is joining Google to lead Chrome's product strategy.
Bank, who previously spent over six years at Google and built the acquired scheduling app Timeful before launching Relay, signals that Google plans to deepen AI integration into Chrome, positioning the browser as a platform for AI-assisted workflows.
What happened
Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation tool launched in 2021, is shutting down access for paying customers on September 14 (free users lost access August 15). Founder and CEO Jacob Bank is rejoining Google as VP of Product for Chrome, leading the product and developer relations teams.
Why it matters
Bank spent over six years at Google before leaving to build Relay; he now returns to lead Chrome's product strategy at a moment when Google is deeply integrating AI (Gemini) into its core products. Bank frames Chrome as "a perfect place to collaborate with agents," signaling Google plans to embed AI workflow capabilities directly into the browser where billions of users already work.
What to watch
Bank said he has "really ambitious plans to help you work with AI in Chrome to get things done" and promised to share more soon. Google recently reported Gemini had reached 1 billion users, and Gemini is already available as an optional in-browser assistant in Chrome.
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Relay's shutdown and Bank's move to Google represent a consolidation of AI automation talent into the search giant's core product infrastructure. Bank has a track record of building productivity tools powered by acquisition—Timeful was bought by Google in 2015, and now Relay, which aimed to be a Zapier competitor, is effectively absorbed into Google's Chrome division through Bank's leadership appointment. This move signals Google's strategic intent to embed AI agents and workflow automation directly into Chrome rather than develop them as standalone third-party integrations. The timing aligns with Google's broader push to integrate Gemini across its products; Gemini reached 1 billion users and is already available as an optional in-browser assistant in Chrome. By bringing Bank—who built tools designed to "help people get more done with AI, without sacrificing their personal creativity"—into Chrome's product leadership, Google appears to be preparing a more ambitious AI-native version of the browser itself.
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