Google Gemini Ditches Custom 'Gems' for New 'Skills' Format

Google's Gemini chatbot is undergoing significant changes as it phases out its custom 'Gems' system in favor of 'Skills'. The shift will begin on November 17, 2026, when existing Gems will be automatically migrated to the new Skills format. This change affects users who have created custom Gems, which could perform tasks such as serving as a learning coach or brainstormer.

Gemini's Skills system works differently than its predecessor; it allows for reusable instructions that can be invoked by typing '/' in a chat and automatically used when relevant to the current prompt. Users can also combine multiple skills within a single prompt, giving them greater flexibility.

For those who want to get ahead of the transition, Google has provided instructions on how to manually recreate their Gems as Skills. This process involves uploading complex skills that include text files, PDFs, and images. As part of this change, Skills will gain features such as the ability to share them with others and add files from Google Drive.