Relay Closes, Its CEO Becomes VP of Product for Chrome

Google now claims over one billion users for Gemini, which is already integrated into search and offered as an optional assistant in Chrome. In this context, Relay is ceasing its operations, and its founder Jacob Bank is taking on the role of VP Product for Chrome, while part of the team joins the browser. The specifics of how AI will be integrated into Chrome remain to be clarified, and a shutdown timeline has been set for Relay customers.

Google says Gemini surpasses 1 billion users

Google reports that Gemini has crossed the one billion user mark. The model is already integrated into Google search and offered in Chrome as an optional assistant within the browser. These integrations frame the environment in which part of the Relay team is arriving.

Jacob Bank to lead product and developer relations for Chrome

Jacob Bank will rejoin Google as VP Product for Chrome and will be responsible for the product and developer relations teams. A portion of Relay's staff is also joining the browser team. Bank states that he has dedicated his career to building tools that help people do more with AI and sees Chrome as an opportunity to reach many more users. He mentions ambitious plans to work with AI in the browser and describes Chrome as the "perfect place to collaborate with agents." However, the precise details of these future integrations are not specified at this stage.

Relay cuts access: August 15 for free users, September 14 for paid users

Free users of Relay lost access to the service on August 15. For paying customers, access is set to close on September 14, as announced by Jacob Bank. The shutdown of the application was initially communicated in July. The platform's offline transition is currently underway.

From Timeful to Relay: Bank's journey and product

Jacob Bank joined Google in 2015 following the acquisition of his previous startup, Timeful, a scheduling application. He held several roles there, including product lead for Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Chat, before leaving to launch Relay. Launched in 2021 with the ambition of becoming the new Zapier, Relay is a workflow automation tool designed to enhance productivity. The platform allowed users to handle repetitive tasks such as document drafting, text revision, and various project management tasks. Bank had spent just over six years at Google before the Relay venture.