Google is preparing to retire Gemini Gems, its feature for creating customized AI assistants, and replace it with a new system called Skills. The transition is scheduled to begin on November 17, 2026.
Gemini Gems were introduced in 2024 to let users create specialized AI assistants for specific tasks without repeatedly providing the same instructions. They could be configured for activities such as coding, brainstorming, learning, career advice, editing, fitness planning, and travel assistance.
Existing Gems will automatically be converted into Skills, meaning users will not need to rebuild their custom assistants. Gems will continue working until the transition date.
The new Skills system is designed to make customized instructions reusable across different AI tasks. Users will be able to activate a Skill inside a conversation by entering a forward slash “/” and selecting the desired Skill.
The change reflects Google’s broader effort to simplify how customized AI capabilities work within Gemini as AI assistants become increasingly capable of handling multiple types of tasks from a single interface.
