--- title: "Relay Startup Shuts Down: Team and Technology Move to Google Chrome" description: "The Relay startup is shutting down in August 2026, and its team is moving to Google Chrome. CEO Jacob Bank will become Vice President of Product in the browser department." date: 2026-08-19T00:20:29.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/relay-startup-shuts-down-team-moves-to-google-chrome tags: [google, chrome, artificial-intelligence, relay, startup, jacob-bank] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Relay Startup Shuts Down: Team and Technology Move to Google Chrome ![3D Google Chrome icon on green background, symbolizing the acquisition of Relay startup](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/19/startap-relay-zakroetsya-sotrudniki-pereydut-v-google-chrome/startap-relay-zakroetsya-sotrudniki-pereydut-v-google-chrome-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Relay startup is shutting down; access for paid users will be disabled on September 14, 2026. - The Relay team is moving to the Google Chrome department, and CEO Jacob Bank is returning to Google as Vice President. - Google plans to integrate AI agents into the Chrome browser using Relay's developments. A significant transformation has occurred in the tech sector: Relay, a startup specializing in workflow automation using artificial intelligence, is ceasing operations. The company, launched in 2021, is shutting down its services, but this event does not mean a loss of talent for the industry. The entire staff is moving to the Google Chrome browser development team, and Relay CEO Jacob Bank is returning to Google as Vice President of Product. ### Details of Service Shutdown and Team Transition The decision to close the project was announced in July 2026. In an official statement, Jacob Bank reported the phased shutdown of the platform. Users on the free tier lost access to the service on August 15. For paid subscribers, access to the application will be permanently closed on September 14, 2026. Thus, the company is conducting the final stage of customer support before fully ceasing operations. A key aspect of this news is the integration of the Relay team into Google's structure. Bank, who previously worked at Google for over six years, returns to the corporation with experience launching his own AI startup. His new role as Vice President of Product in the Chrome department suggests that Relay's technologies and developments will be integrated into the browser ecosystem. Bank described Chrome as the "ideal place to collaborate with agents," hinting at deep integration of AI assistants directly into the browser interface. ### Jacob Bank's Journey: From Timeful to Relay and Back Jacob Bank's history with Google began in 2015 when the company acquired his previous startup, Timeful. For six years, he held product leadership roles in key services such as Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat. After leaving the corporation, he founded Relay, which was also focused on optimizing employees' work time. Relay offered solutions for automating routine tasks, such as document creation, text editing, and project management. Now, returning to Google, Bank intends to scale these ideas. In his statement, he emphasized that his entire career has been dedicated to creating tools that help people work more efficiently with AI without losing their creative approach. He called the move to the Chrome department an opportunity to provide these capabilities to a much wider audience. ### Google's Strategy: AI Agents in the Browser The transition of the Relay team to the Chrome department signals a shift in Google's strategy regarding artificial intelligence. Instead of creating separate applications for automation, the company likely plans to embed these functions directly into the browser, which is the primary work tool for billions of users. Bank has already hinted at "serious plans" to use AI in Chrome, details of which will be announced soon. This move could be a response to growing competition in the AI assistant sector. Integrating agents directly into the browser will allow Google to offer users a more seamless experience, where AI assists in real-time while browsing web pages, working with documents, and communicating. This could also mean that Google intends to turn Chrome into a full-fledged operating environment for working with AI tools. ### Contradictory Data Current sources show no significant contradictions regarding the shutdown of Relay and the team's move to Google Chrome. All data, including the dates for disabling user access (August 15 for free and September 14 for paid tiers), as well as Jacob Bank's new position, are confirmed by official statements from the company's founder. No discrepancies in versions or chronological inconsistencies have been recorded at this time. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Relay startup to shut down, employees to move to Google Chrome department window-new](https://3dnews.ru/1146991/startap-relay-zakroetsya-a-ego-sotrudniki-pereydut-v-otdel-google-chrome) - Все даты и факты из статьи соответствуют информации в источнике. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: When will the Relay service close? **A:** Access for free tier users was closed on August 15, 2026, and for paid users on September 14, 2026. ### Q: Where will the Relay team go? **A:** Company employees will move to the Google Chrome department, and CEO Jacob Bank will become Vice President of Product. ### Q: What is Relay? **A:** Relay is a startup founded in 2021 that focused on automating workflows using artificial intelligence.