Google Hires Relay Founder as Chrome VP, Shuts Down AI Workflow Platform

Relay, a startup that used artificial intelligence to automate workplace tasks, is closing its doors. Paying customers will lose access on September 14, while free users have already been cut off as of mid-August.

The company's founder and CEO, Jacob Bank, is moving to Google to become Vice President of Product for Chrome, where he will oversee product strategy and developer relations. This marks his return to the search giant after launching Relay in 2021.

Bank's Vision for Chrome and AI#

In a post on X, Bank emphasized his long-standing focus on creating tools that leverage artificial intelligence to boost productivity while preserving human agency. He framed his new role at Google as the natural next step: "Joining the Chrome team is an ideal opportunity to bring those experiences to many, many more people."

Bank hinted at upcoming AI capabilities in Chrome, stating that the browser represents "a perfect place to collaborate with agents" and promising ambitious new features for working with AI directly within the browser.

Background: From Timeful to Relay#

Bank's journey mirrors a pattern of productivity innovation across his career. In 2015, Google acquired his first startup, Timeful, a scheduling application that helped users organize their calendars. He spent roughly six years at Google working on key products including Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat before departing to found Relay.

Relay picked up where Timeful left off—automating repetitive business workflows like document creation and editing, along with project management tasks. The platform was positioned as a competitor to Zapier, the established leader in workflow automation.

Fitting Into Google's AI Push#

Bank's appointment reflects Google's broader strategy of embedding artificial intelligence throughout its product ecosystem. The company has already integrated Gemini, its AI assistant, into Google Search and Chrome, fundamentally reshaping how users interact with both platforms. Gemini recently crossed 1 billion users, signaling strong user adoption of Google's AI initiatives.

Chrome now serves as a key venue for AI experimentation, and Bank's expertise in workflow automation and AI productivity tools positions him to deepen these integrations.