Google Chrome Team Hires Staff From AI Startup Relay

Relay, an artificial intelligence startup focused on workflow automation, has officially shut down its operations. The platform terminated access for free users on August 15, and paying customers will lose access on September 14. Following the closure, several members of Relay's team are transitioning to Google. Among them is Relay founder and CEO Jacob Bank, who is taking on the role of Vice President of Product for Google Chrome, where he will oversee product management and developer relations.

This move marks a return to Google for Bank, who previously spent over six years at the tech giant. He originally joined Google in 2015 when his scheduling startup, Timeful, was acquired. During his previous tenure, Bank served as the product lead for Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat before departing to launch Relay in 2021. Relay was designed to compete with established automation platforms like Zapier, helping businesses automate repetitive tasks such as drafting documents, copyediting, and managing projects.

Bank's appointment signals Google's intent to deepen AI capabilities within its browser ecosystem. Bank has expressed that Chrome represents an ideal environment for users to collaborate with AI agents. This transition aligns with Google's broader strategy of embedding its Gemini AI model across its product suite. Gemini was recently integrated directly into Chrome as an optional assistant, contributing to a user base that Google reports has now surpassed one billion users.

For developers and enterprise users, this talent acquisition suggests that Google Chrome may soon feature more native, sophisticated AI automation tools. Instead of relying on third-party extensions or external platforms like Zapier to connect workflows, users might eventually see deep, agent-based automation built directly into the browser. This could streamline how professionals manage web-based tasks and interact with web applications.