Google has announced it is discontinuing the “Gems” feature within its Gemini app, replacing it with a new system called “skills.” The change, reported by TechCrunch, marks a shift in how users customize AI interactions, moving away from dedicated assistant profiles toward integrated capabilities.

What Happened

According to notifications appearing in the Gemini app, Gems will officially become skills starting November 17, 2026. Google stated that the migration will be automatic, ensuring that the work users invested in creating custom Gems will not be lost. Users do not need to take any action to transition their existing assistants, which will remain fully usable until the switchover date.

Launched in 2024, Gems were designed to allow users to teach the AI to perform specific tasks without repeating instructions. The platform offered pre-made Gems for roles such as learning coach, brainstorming assistant, career guide, coding partner, and editor. Users could also create and share custom Gems for personal needs, such as running coaches or vacation planners, a strategy Google hoped would boost the popularity of the Gemini app.

Why It Matters

The shutdown of Gems highlights the competitive pressure Google faces from all-in-one AI agents, such as Meta’s Muse and Instinct, which have gained traction. While the new “skills” format preserves user data, the interface change may impact accessibility. Google notes that invoking a skill now requires users to enter a forward slash “/” in a task thread to select the desired capability. This user interface element is often preferred by engineers but may be less intuitive for general consumers compared to the previous model or the conversational flow of competitors like Meta’s Muse.

The move also draws attention to Google’s history of branding and integrating AI features. The source notes that giving every new feature a distinct brand name and icon, only to shuffle or merge them later, has been a longstanding critique of Google’s product strategy, extending back to its messaging apps.

The Bottom Line

Google is consolidating its custom AI assistant offerings by retiring Gems in favor of “skills” this November. While the transition promises automatic migration of user data, the new invocation method via forward slash commands represents a technical shift that may alter the user experience for non-technical audiences.