Google is killing off Gemini’s Gems in favor of ‘skills’

Google will retire the Gemini feature called "Gems," which let users build task-specific AI assistants, and convert those creations into a new "skills" format. The company says existing Gems will be automatically migrated and remain usable until the transition date in November 2026.

By AI Newsroom· Reviewed by Pranav, Founder & Editor-in-ChiefPublished 1 minute agoUpdated 1 minute ago0 views

Google is killing off Gemini’s Gems in favor of ‘skills’

Why It Matters

The change reflects a shift in how Google is organizing Gemini’s capabilities as the market moves toward broader, all-in-one AI agents; it also affects users who invested time creating and sharing custom assistants. The new skills format and its interface could change how easily nontechnical users access those personalized tools.

Key Facts

Feature being shut down: Gems (Gemini feature)
New format: Skills
Automatic migration date: Starting November 17, 2026
Original launch year for Gems: 2024
How to invoke skills in Gemini: Enter a forward slash "/" in a task thread to select a skill

Google has announced it will phase out Gems, a component of its Gemini app that let users create and share task-focused AI assistants, and convert those creations into a new "skills" format. According to messages appearing in the Gemini app, the migration to skills will begin on November 17, 2026, and Google says it will handle the conversion automatically so users do not need to take action. Existing Gems will remain available until that change takes effect.

Gems were introduced in 2024 as a way for users to teach Gemini to perform repeatable tasks without re-entering instructions. Google offered several pre-built Gems such as a learning coach, brainstorming assistant, career guide, coding partner, and editor, and users could also make and share custom Gems for uses like running coaching, nutrition advice, or vacation planning. Google had positioned sharing as a way to grow engagement with the Gemini app.

Under the new setup, the company says the converted Skills will be accessible across different AI tasks within Gemini. Google notes users will select skills by typing a forward slash "/" in a task thread, a workflow the company acknowledges is less like freeform text-chat and more akin to command-oriented interfaces favored by technical users. The switch follows reporting from 9to5Google that first flagged Gems' wind-down.

The move highlights broader questions about product naming and navigation as AI features proliferate. The announcement underscores a persistent challenge for Google: balancing frequent feature introductions with a stable app structure, particularly when features are rebranded or merged over time. Google will keep Gems usable until the migration date and will perform the transition automatically for users.