Relay, an AI-powered workflow automation startup launched in 2021 as a modern alternative to Zapier, is shutting down its service.
Founder and CEO Jacob Bank announced that Relay will end access for paying customers on September 14, while free-tier customers lost access on August 15. The company first signaled the shutdown in July.
“I’ve spent my whole career doing one thing: building tools that help people get more done with AI, without sacrificing their personal creativity or insights,” said Bank in a post on X. “And joining the Chrome team is an ideal opportunity to bring those experiences to many, many more people.”
“We have some really ambitious plans to help you work with AI in Chrome to get things done, and I’ll have more to share soon,” he added.
Following the closure, Bank is returning to Google as Vice President of Product for Chrome. He will lead Chrome’s product and developer relations teams.
Bank previously spent more than six years at Google after the company acquired his scheduling startup, Timeful, in 2015. During his time at Google, he held product leadership roles across Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Chat before leaving to launch Relay.
Relay provided businesses with AI-powered workflow automation tools designed to reduce repetitive work. Its platform helped users automate tasks such as document drafting, copyediting and project management.
Bank said his career has focused on developing AI tools that improve productivity while preserving human creativity. He also described his return to Chrome as an opportunity to bring that vision to a much larger audience.
The move comes as Google continues expanding AI capabilities across its products. Gemini has been integrated into Google Search and Chrome, where it can serve as an in-browser AI assistant.
Bank has also suggested that Chrome could become an important platform for working with AI agents, potentially pointing to further AI-focused developments within the browser.
The shutdown of Relay marks the end of the startup’s effort to build an AI-powered alternative to traditional workflow automation platforms while its founder and several employees move into Google’s broader AI and Chrome efforts.
