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AI automation startup Relay shuts down, staff joins Google's Chrome team

Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation tool, is shutting down, and its staff, including founder and CEO Jacob Bank, are joining Google's Chrome team.

By Lucas Ropek·Aug 17·techcrunch.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

AI automation startup Relay shuts down, staff joins Google's Chrome team
Image: techcrunch.com

Relay, a workflow automation tool, is shutting down, and its staff are joining Google's Chrome team, where they will work on integrating AI into the browser.

Why it matters

The shutdown of Relay and its staff's move to Google's Chrome team highlights the growing importance of AI in browser development and its potential impact on productivity.

Relay was a tool that helped people automate tasks using AI. Now, the people who made Relay are joining Google's Chrome team to make Chrome better with AI. This means that Chrome will be able to do more things with AI, making it easier for people to get things done.

Analysis

Relay's Rise and Fall

Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation tool, was launched in 2021 with the goal of becoming the new Zapier. However, despite its ambitious plans, the app has struggled to gain traction and is now shutting down. The company's closure was initially announced in July, and free customers lost access to the app as of August 15. Paying customers will have access until September 14.

Google's Chrome Team

Relay's founder and CEO, Jacob Bank, is rejoining Google's Chrome team as VP of Product. Bank previously spent over six years at Google, working on various projects, including Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat. He will lead the product and developer relations teams for Chrome, where he will focus on integrating AI into the browser.

AI in Chrome

The integration of AI into Chrome is a significant development in the field of browser development. Google has been steadily integrating AI into its user experience, including the introduction of Gemini, an AI-powered assistant. Gemini has been integrated into search and Chrome, where it serves as an optional in-browser assistant. The integration of AI into Chrome has been well-received by users, with Google recently reporting that Gemini had crested 1 billion users.

Implications

The shutdown of Relay and its staff's move to Google's Chrome team highlights the growing importance of AI in browser development. The integration of AI into Chrome has the potential to significantly impact productivity and user experience. As AI continues to play a larger role in browser development, it will be interesting to see how it is used and how it will impact users.

Key points

  • Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation tool, is shutting down.
  • Relay's staff, including founder and CEO Jacob Bank, are joining Google's Chrome team.
  • Google's Chrome team will focus on integrating AI into the browser.
  • The integration of AI into Chrome has the potential to significantly impact productivity and user experience.
The Upside

The integration of AI into Chrome has the potential to significantly impact productivity and user experience. With the addition of AI-powered tools, users may be able to automate more tasks and streamline their workflow, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.

The Downside

The shutdown of Relay and its staff's move to Google's Chrome team may also lead to a loss of innovation and competition in the market. With Relay shutting down, there is now less competition for Google's Chrome team, which may lead to a lack of innovation and progress in the field of browser development.

Originally reported at

techcrunch.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsaichromegooglerelayai-integrationbrowser-development

Author

Lucas Ropek

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Aug 17, 2026

Source

techcrunch.com

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Topics

aichromegooglerelayai-integrationbrowser-development

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