Google retires Gemini's 'Gems' feature, replaces it with 'skills'

Google has announced it is shutting down Gems, a Gemini app feature that let users build custom AI assistants for specific tasks. Launched in 2024, Gems were designed to help users teach their AI to handle particular tasks without repeating instructions each time.

Among Google's pre-made Gems were a learning coach, a brainstorming assistant, a career guide, a coding partner, and an editor. Users could also create their own Gems, such as a running coach, nutritionist, or vacation planner, and share them with others.

Automatic migration

Google says the effort users put into building their Gems won't be lost. Starting November 17, 2026, Gems will be automatically migrated into a new format called 'skills,' which can be used across different AI tasks within Gemini. The change is being communicated to users directly inside the Gemini app, and existing Gems will remain usable until that date. Since the migration happens automatically, users won't need to take any action themselves.

A less consumer-friendly interface

While the underlying functionality is being preserved, the new format isn't necessarily easier for everyday users. To use a skill within a task thread, users will need to type a forward slash '/' and then select the skill they want — an interaction pattern that tends to appeal more to engineers than casual users. The news of Gems' wind-down was first reported over the weekend by 9to5Google.