AI automation startup Relay shuts down, staff joins Google's Chrome team
TechCrunch
β’Mon, 17 Aug 2026 21:27:05 +0000
π° What Happened
Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation startup launched in 2021 with the aim of becoming 'the new Zapier', is shutting down and some of its staff, including its founder and CEO, are joining Google's Chrome team. Founder Jacob Bank announced that the app will end access for paying customers on September 14, after free customers lost access on August 15. Bank, who previously spent just over six years at Google, will rejoin the company as VP of Product for Google Chrome, leading the product and developer relations teams.
π The Backstory
The closure was initially announced in July. Bank founded Relay in 2021 after a long previous stint at Google, and the startup had built AI-driven workflow automation. His return to Google places the team inside one of the largest platforms at a moment when Google has been integrating its Gemini AI deeply into search and Chrome, with the company reporting that its AI products had crested one billion users.
π― Why It Matters
The acqui-hire reflects the competitive reality for many AI startups, where exits increasingly come through talent and team acquisition by incumbents rather than independent success. Bank taking a senior product role in Chrome signals continued momentum in Google's AI-first consumer strategy. The closure also highlights how hard it is for new AI entrants to displace established categories like automation and workflow tools.
Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation startup launched in 2021 with the aim of becoming 'the new Zapier', is shutting down and some of its staff, including its founder and CEO, are joining Google's Chrome team. Founder Jacob Bank announced that the app will end access for paying customers on September 14, after free customers lost access on August 15. Bank, who previously spent just over six years at Google, will rejoin the company as VP of Product for Google Chrome, leading the product and developer relations teams.
The closure was initially announced in July. Bank founded Relay in 2021 after a long previous stint at Google, and the startup had built AI-driven workflow automation. His return to Google places the team inside one of the largest platforms at a moment when Google has been integrating its Gemini AI deeply into search and Chrome, with the company reporting that its AI products had crested one billion users.
The acqui-hire reflects the competitive reality for many AI startups, where exits increasingly come through talent and team acquisition by incumbents rather than independent success. Bank taking a senior product role in Chrome signals continued momentum in Google's AI-first consumer strategy. The closure also highlights how hard it is for new AI entrants to displace established categories like automation and workflow tools.