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AI automation startup Relay shuts down; staff joins Google Chrome team
Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation platform launched in 2021, is shutting down. Founder and CEO Jacob Bank is rejoining Google as VP of Product for Chrome, along with some staff.
Relay announced it will shut down access for paying customers on September 14, after free users lost access on August 15. The closure was first announced in July.
Jacob Bank, who founded Relay in 2021 with the goal of becoming the next Zapier, is rejoining Google as VP of Product for Google Chrome. He will lead the product and developer relations teams for Chrome, according to his LinkedIn.
Bank previously spent more than six years at Google, joining in 2015 after Google acquired his scheduling app Timeful.
In a post on X, Bank said his career has focused on building AI tools that help people get more done without losing personal creativity. He described joining the Chrome team as an ideal opportunity to bring those experiences to a larger audience.
He also teased ambitious plans for AI in Chrome, saying there is more to share soon.