The AI graveyard: a running list of projects and startups that didn’t make it
- ID
- 24798
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 16 Sep 2026, 3:00 AM
- Fetched
- 16 Sep 2026, 4:55 AM
- Provider
- TechCrunch
- Category
- technology
- Original URL
- https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/15/the-ai-graveyard-a-running-list-of-projects-and-startups-that-didnt-make-it/
- Source URL
- https://techcrunch.com/feed/
Summary
- Score
- 7.5
- Created
- 16 Sep 2026, 4:55 AM
- Tags
- Audience
- developersvibe_coderssaas_foundersai_agent_users
What happened
TechCrunch is maintaining a running list of failed AI projects and startups. Notable entries include Relay, a 5-year-old AI workflow automation tool and Zapier alternative that shut down because OpenAI and Google built similar automation directly into their own platforms. S&P Global Market Intelligence reports ~42% of AI initiatives are ultimately abandoned by their corporate parents, and OpenAI's July 9 attempt to turn ChatGPT into a 'super app' (combining Chat, Codex, and Work modes) was rolled back after users found it confusing and cluttered.
Why it matters
If you are building a standalone AI tool that wraps workflow automation, code generation, or chat into a thin layer over someone else's API, Relay's death is your warning: the platform owners will absorb your feature. Decide now whether your product has a defensible moat beyond being first, or pivot toward vertical depth, proprietary data, or integration lock-in that the big platforms won't replicate. The 42% abandonment rate also means corporate AI initiatives are not reliable partners or distribution channels.
Discussion angle
Which categories of AI tooling are still safe to build as a standalone product versus which are next in line to be absorbed by OpenAI/Google/Microsoft — and what does a defensible moat actually look like for a small Malaysian or SEA team right now?