Relay AI workflow tool closes as founder Jacob Bank returns to Google Chrome

Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation service that debuted in 2021 with ambitions to challenge Zapier, is winding down its operations. Paying customers will lose access on September 14, following the earlier cutoff for free users on August 15. Founder and CEO Jacob Bank disclosed that he will return to Google, this time as vice-president of product for the Chrome browser, overseeing product strategy and developer outreach.

Bank, who previously spent more than six years at Google and launched the scheduling app Timeful, highlighted that Chrome offers a large platform for AI-enhanced productivity. The company had offered automation features for tasks like document drafting and copyediting. Google continues to integrate its Gemini AI into Chrome, positioning the browser as a hub for AI-assisted work. Details on how Bank plans to expand AI capabilities within Chrome remain forthcoming.