Google retires Gemini Gems, shifts to Skills

From Gems to Skills: Google’s Gemini overhaul

Google has announced that the Gemini feature known as “Gems,” which let users craft custom AI assistants for specific tasks, will be discontinued. The company says the work users invested in building Gems will not be lost; instead, each Gem will be automatically converted into a “skill” that can be applied across a range of AI interactions. The transition is slated to begin on November 17, 2026, and will be handled silently by Google, meaning users will not need to take any action.

Details of the change are being displayed inside the Gemini app, where a notice informs users that Gems will become skills starting that date. Until then, the original Gems will continue to function as usual.

Gems were introduced in 2024 as a way for users to teach Gemini to carry out particular tasks without repeatedly re‑entering instructions. Google provided several ready‑made Gems, including a learning coach, a brainstorming assistant, a career guide, a coding partner, and an editor. Users could also design their own Gems for purposes such as a running coach, a nutritionist, or a vacation planner. These custom assistants could be shared with others, a feature Google hoped would boost the popularity of its Gemini AI app.

What the migration means for users

When the conversion takes effect, the former Gems will appear as selectable skills within a chat thread. To invoke a skill, users must prefix their request with a forward slash “/”. Google notes that this interface is favored by engineers over ordinary consumers, who might prefer simply typing a query to a chatbot like Meta’s Muse or Instinct, both of which function as all‑in‑one AI agents.

The shutdown of Gems was first reported over the weekend by 9to5Google.

Editorial take: branding and user experience

The move underscores a recurring criticism of Google’s product strategy: introducing numerous AI features with distinct names, icons, and navigation spots only to later consolidate them. This pattern predates the current AI boom; for example, Google once operated several separate messaging and communication apps simultaneously. By merging Gems into Skills, Google risks confusing users who have grown accustomed to the Gem interface, especially when the replacement requires a less intuitive command.

While the technical migration is seamless, the shift highlights a broader tension between power users who appreciate granular controls and everyday users who value simplicity. If Google hopes to keep Gemini competitive against platforms like Meta’s Muse, it will need to balance feature depth with a more consumer‑friendly experience.